Austin ISD elects four trustees and sends an at-large seat to a near-tie runoff, with a possible state takeover in the background

Austin ISD voters chose four school board trustees on Tuesday and sent a fifth seat to a runoff, according to unofficial Travis County results. Incumbent Candace Hunter was reelected in District 1. Newcomers Jessica "Jessie" Neufeld, Sarah Dille and Laurie Solis won Districts 4, 6 and 7. At-large Position 9 is headed to a Dec. 12 runoff between Pamela Mathai and Cynthia Soliz, Community Impact reported in a story updated at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

The school district is a separate government from the city, with its own board and tax rate. But its decisions on campuses and land reach the same neighborhoods the City Council zones, and both governments share the Dec. 12 runoff ballot.

The results

Community Impact's early-vote numbers, released at 8:37 p.m. Tuesday and not including Election Day ballots, were:

• District 1: Hunter 58.37% (11,034 votes), Cheryl Bradley 41.63% (7,868).
• District 4 (open): Neufeld 59.11% (17,829), Tricia Mitchell Kim 27.84%, Edward Bradfield 13.05%.
• District 6: Dille 60.45% (14,736), Alex San Martin 19.85%, Marie Lebron 19.70%.
• District 7: Solis 59.63% (16,777), Jimmy Counihan 40.37%.
• At-large Position 9: Mathai 44.63% (74,038), Soliz 42.34% (70,245), Kirk Becker 13.03%.

With Election Day ballots added, the at-large race tightened to 42.9% for Mathai and 42.8% for Soliz, Community Impact reported at 7 a.m. A trustee needs a majority to win. KUT also reported Hunter and Neufeld leading.

All results are unofficial until canvassed.

Why this board may have limited power

Hunter was the only trustee seeking reelection, so at least four new members will join the board. It was the first time since 2014 that every AISD trustee seat on the ballot was contested, Community Impact reported.

In August the Texas Education Agency gave Burnet and Webb middle schools a fifth straight failing rating. Under state law, that can lead the education commissioner to either close the campuses or replace the elected board with appointed managers, Community Impact reported, so the new trustees could take office with limited authority. The district must send its Burnet and Webb plans to the state by Dec. 1. Our earlier story explains the options and timeline.

What our records add

City zoning and district land. The new board inherits a budget gap of at least $60 million for next year, and campus property has been part of the answer. In July the council rezoned the former Brooke Elementary site at 3100 E. Fourth St. for commercial and mixed use, at AISD's request, on a 10-0 vote. The district later sold the site for $16 million, Community Impact reported. Our story on the cuts has more.

The council's interest in closed campuses. In March the council passed, 6-2, a resolution asking the city manager to explore partnerships with school districts to reuse closed campuses and to write a land policy keeping public sites in community use. Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Member José Velásquez voted no. Our story on the district's other property sales covers how that policy fits.

Shared runoff, shared voters. The at-large AISD runoff will be on the same Dec. 12 date as the City Council runoffs in Districts 1, 3 and 5, according to KUT and Community Impact. Voters in those council districts who live in AISD will see both races. Our council results story has the city's numbers.

What's next

• Nov. 5: The AISD board continues its budget discussion at an information session, Community Impact reported in October.
• Nov. 12: The board's next scheduled vote.
• Dec. 1: Deadline for the district's Burnet and Webb submissions to the state.
• Dec. 12: At-large Position 9 runoff. Dates and polling places will be posted at votetravis.gov.