SFDRCISD School Board Filing Window Open Jan. 14 through Feb. 13, 2026

The San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District opened its candidate-filing window Jan. 14 and will close filings on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, giving prospective trustees roughly four weeks to submit paperwork to appear on the ballot. The district’s public notice confirms those start and end dates but does not, in the excerpt provided to this newsroom, list which trustee places are on the 2026 ballot or the names of anyone who has filed.

That gap leaves several concrete steps for candidates and voters. Historically, SFDRCISD has required completed applications to be signed and notarized and clearly marked with the specific place sought. In 2018, applications were available electronically and in hard copy at the SFDRCISD Student Performance and Administration Building at 315 Griner St., and the district limited its role to accepting and filing applications, affidavits, and statements while noting the date and time of filing. Prospective 2026 candidates should verify whether those procedures remain unchanged by contacting the Office of the SFDRCISD Superintendent at 830-778-4007 or by checking the district’s school board election webpage.

Archival material from the 2018 filing cycle provides useful context for local voters. The May 5, 2018 election featured four contested places - Place I, Place III, Place IV, and Place V - and drew 10 names across those contests. Incumbents at that time were listed as Kenneth Smith for Place I, Cecilia Martinez-Lozano for Place III, Raymond Meza for Place IV, and Roberto Chavira for Place V. The 2018 candidate roster, shown as names on the ballot, included Ken Smith; Jacques De La Mota; Anthony Jasso; Juan Leon; Ceci Martinez-Lozano; Linda Guanajuato-Webb; Raymond P. Meza; Belinda Reyes; Roberto Chavira; and Arturo Rodriguez. Those names are archival and should not be assumed to reflect the 2026 field without confirmation.

Why this matters to Val Verde County residents is straightforward: school board trustees set local education priorities that influence staffing, curriculum choices, capital spending, and the district’s tax rate. Voter engagement and the number of contested seats can alter policy direction. In 2018, multiple contested seats produced a field of 10 candidates, demonstrating that contested elections can mobilize choices and debate on district governance.

For now, the practical next step for voters and potential candidates is verification. The district’s notice related to the 2026 filing window is incomplete in the material provided to this newsroom, so interested parties should confirm filing location, notarization and submission requirements, which trustee places are up for election, and the official list of applicants after Feb. 13. Residents can reach the superintendent’s office at 830-778-4007 for the most current details and watch the SFDRCISD school board election page for updates. The final candidate roster and the scheduled election date will determine how competitive the contest will be and what policy shifts, if any, may follow.