An incumbent Hays CISD school board trustee will square off against three political newcomers who are challenging him for the District 3 seat on the dais.

Bert Bronaugh, the incumbent District 3 trustee, will go up against Valerie Hopkins, Michael Sanchez and Alejandro Correa in the May 6 general election.

Bronaugh, who has been elected to the dais on two occasions in 2009 and again in 2013, said he chose to run for reelection based on his familiarity with the issues in the district.

Bronaugh, a Buda resident who works as a mechanic at the Lower Colorado River Authority and Truck City Ford, also hopes to see several items put in place during his current term come to completion.

“I feel like I know what is going on, so there won’t be a learning curve going into it,” Bronaugh said.

His platform will center on what the district is doing to prepare students for life after high school.

“It’s all about the kids and I don’t want to lose that focus,” Bronaugh said. “I don’t want to get into other areas that don’t deal with getting our kids ready for life.”

Meanwhile, Sanchez, a professor at San Antonio Community College and an adjunct professor at Austin Community College, said his motivation to run for school board centers on participating in his community and improving education.

Sanchez said he thinks there could be some “self-reflection” in the district when it comes to the analysis and culture of data-driven decision making, including processes between parents and the district, faculty and their campuses and between all campuses in the district.

Sanchez also believes the district should assess curriculum that goes beyond state mandates.

He would like to see the district emulate improvements in learning and outcomes made at ACC.

“My mission statement is focusing on helping to realize the vision of the district,” Sanchez said. “The things the district says in terms of its vision, I agree with, and their goals I agree with.”

Kyle resident Alejandro Correa, a senior software developer and analyst with the University of Texas at Austin, said he filed to run in order to be more involved with his children’s education. Correa’s children go to Hays CISD schools and his wife is currently employed in the district.

“I have a lot invested in that, so I want to make sure I can help guide it in the right direction,” Correa said.

Correa said the district is at a turning point and that growth needs to be managed. While Correa believed the district is doing a good job in some cases, he feels some aspects, such as diversification, is a priority to focus on in the future.

While Correa is still formulating a specific platform, he plans to get to know the needs of the district and gather community input on challenges that must be addressed.

Hopkins, a Buda resident who is also running in her first election, was recently hired as the Director of Transportation at Manor ISD. Hopkins has lived within the District 3 area for the past five years.