David Nance -- Candidate for Amarillo ISD Board of Trustees

Name: David Nance

Office Sought: Amarillo ISD Board of Trustees

What is your age? 54

What is your educational background? Please list any degrees or certificates earned and any institutions attended.

BBA in Economics, West Texas A&M University

What is your occupation?

President, Denman Building Products

Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.

School Board Member, Amarillo Independent School District, 2019 - present
Past Board Member and Board President, Hope Choice
Past Board Member, Mission 2540

Have you previously held or do you currently hold any elected office? If so, what office(s)?

School Board Member, Amarillo Independent School District, 2019 - present

If your campaign has any online campaign resources where voters can learn more about you, such as social media accounts or a website, please list them below.

www.nance4aisd.org

Why did you decide to run for this office in 2025?

Serving on the AISD School Board of Trustees these past 6 years has been an honor of a lifetime. Obviously, I take the governance role very seriously, as a school board member is tasked with approving budgets, curriculum and local school policies. However, one of my main goals has also been to be an encourager for every student and staff member I meet in my service as a board member. AISD has incredible staff members who give of themselves tirelessly everyday and our students often times just need a word or smile of encouragement. That is one of the many reasons that I take such joy in serving as an AISD School Board Member and this also motivated me to run for re-election to the AISD School Board in 2025.

If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?

My top three priorities for continued service on the AISD School Board include:
1.Safety and Security of AISD Staff and Students: Since my service on the Board began in 2019, AISD has invested in over $18 million in safety and security measures to protect our campuses and I will continue to make decisions which provide for the most effective safety measures and protocols for our AISD family.
2. Financial Stewardship: Since 2019, decisions we made as an AISD Board have saved the taxpayer over $34 million from future bond payments. Additionally, we consistently provided pay raises for our outstanding AISD teachers and staff members. I will continue to provide sound financial decisions for the benefit of AISD staff members and for the AISD taxpayer.
3. Enhanced Educational Opportunities: A record number of students are enrolled in the premiere Texas career academy, AmTech, thanks to the successful implementation of the strategic CCMR initiative. As with the decision to bring AmTech online for the benefit of our AISD students, I will continue to seek and approve of creative solutions for AISD so we can live up to the highest calling of our mission: "to graduate every student prepared for life and success beyond high school."

What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?

Few people know or recognize that independent school districts across the state of Texas have not seen an increase in their average daily allotment from the Texas State Legislature since 2019. Now, think for a moment how your personal budget has changed and how much inflation has decreased your buying power over the last 6 years. AISD has done a remarkable job of adjusting to this lack of additional funding from the State by eliminating inefficiencies within the system, reducing staff through attrition and cutting waste to live within our financial means. In fact, AISD was 1 of only 14 districts in the Texas School Alliance (TSA contains the largest 48 districts in the State) to pass a balanced budget in fiscal year 2024-2025. I believe in our amazing staff members and the educational opportunities AISD offers to our community and if I am re-elected to the AISD school board then I will continue to champion the benefits of a strong public education system within Amarillo and the State of Texas.

What is your position on the issue of taxpayer-funded lobbying? Please explain.

First of all, I believe that our local, state and national representatives should be responsive to the aspirations and needs of their constituents and not the opinions of a lobbyist. For far too long, lobbyists have created a divide between our representatives seeking the public interest of their constituents and not the whim and money trail of a lobbying firm. That being said, I would support limits to the use of taxpayer-funded dollars being used for lobbying efforts.

Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?

While serving on the AISD School Board since 2019, I have cast several important votes for the benefit of AISD staff, students and taxpayers:
1. Savings taxpayers over $34 million in future bond payments by refinancing the current bonds.
2. Approval of the premiere Texas career academy, AmTech, which has increased career opportunities for our AISD students
3. Curriculum review and corrections made to new set of curriculum materials which reflects our Texas Panhandle values and morals.
4. Investing in over $18 million in safety and security measures to protect our AISD family.

Building upon these important decisions, I will work tirelessly to provide the most competitive pay and safe environments for our outstanding staff members and students and also look to increase educational and career opportunities for our amazing AISD students.
I would certainly appreciate your support as I seek re-election to serve another term as an Amarillo Independent School District School Board Member.
Thank you.