Members of the SISD Board of Trustees govern and oversee the school district. Trustees set the vision and goals for the district, oversee the superintendent (who they can fire and hire), and adopt the annual tax rate and operating budget. This is an unpaid, nonpartisan position. The district currently enrolls 47,300 students and adopted a budget of $479.6 million with a $22 million deficit for this school year.
SISD District 5 encompasses the area east of Loop 375 south of Vista del Sol Drive down to the Lower Valley and Socorro. Click HERE for map.
Who’s running for this seat?
Cindy Hernandez, 39, is a director of strategy and analytics
Manny Rodriguez, 25, is a government affairs manager
Gary Gandara, 47, a former SISD trustee who lost his seat in 2021, did not respond
Candidate Questionnaires
Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 100 words. Responses have been lightly edited for grammar.
What is your short- and long-term vision for the district, and how would you measure success?
Cindy Hernandez: My immediate priority is to eliminate deficit spending by reducing inefficiencies and focusing on student success and classroom resources. Strategic decisions will minimize impact on students, ensuring a balanced budget and financial transparency. In the long term, I aim to develop SISD into a premier educational system with high graduation rates and career pathways, measured by improved achievement and community engagement.
Manny Rodriguez: In the short term, I plan on doing my part to restore transparency, fiscal responsibility and trust in SISD while protecting educators and programs. Long term, I envision a district where every student thrives and every educator is supported. Success will be measured by student achievement, teacher retention, financial stability and strong community trust.
Gary Gandara: Did not respond.
What experience do you have with curriculum, overseeing budgets, or setting and implementing policy?
Cindy Hernandez: Led strategic planning to improve educational outcomes and community engagement. Analyzed data to guide curriculum decisions and ensure alignment with state and federal standards. Managed $15 million in Medicaid funding, secured $3 million in grants and optimized budget allocation. Oversaw $110 million in infrastructure improvements. Developed policies that enhanced efficiency and supported educational goals.
Manny Rodriguez: I’ve dedicated my career to public service. I’ve worked at the federal level in the U.S. House of Representatives and locally at the El Paso Chamber, advocating for education, budgets and policies that serve families. I also have seven-plus years of grassroots organizing experience, collaborating with community, educators and stakeholders to implement policies that reflect equity and economic prosperity.
Gary Gandara: Did not respond.
What are your budget priorities and how would you balance funding those priorities while keeping property taxes in check?
Cindy Hernandez: Balancing budget priorities while maintaining fiscal responsibility is key. My approach focuses on strategic investments in education, prioritizing teacher salaries, classroom resources and technology. I will eliminate inefficiencies, streamline operations and explore alternative revenue sources to minimize tax burdens. By investing in student success and fostering community partnerships, we ensure long-term growth.
Manny Rodriguez: My budget priorities focus on protecting teacher and staff positions, maintaining strong academic programs and ensuring safe, well-resourced schools. I support transparent budgeting that prioritizes the classroom first. To balance these needs while keeping property taxes in check, I would advocate for increased state investment in public education and work to maximize every dollar by cutting waste, not essential services. Despite efforts to weaken public education, we don’t back down.
Gary Gandara: Did not respond.
What strategies do you propose to make your district schools a more attractive option for families who might be thinking about enrolling their children in other school systems?
Cindy Hernandez: To position SISD as a premier district, we will prioritize both academic excellence and holistic development. Offering programs like AP courses, STEM initiatives and extracurricular activities will challenge and support students. Robust social and emotional support will ensure students’ well-being. By fostering partnerships with families and clear communication, SISD will become the district of choice, preparing students for lifelong success.
Manny Rodriguez: I’m committed to making SISD the clear, unbeatable choice over charter and private schools. We’ll work on strengthening and restoring programs like fine arts, career pathways and dual credit, while ensuring schools are safe, inclusive and transparent. By building strong relationships with families, supporting teachers and celebrating student success, SISD can once again be the district families trust and choose first.
Gary Gandara: Did not respond.
How would you promote transparency and accountability in board decisions?
Cindy Hernandez: I will propose promoting transparency and accountability in board decisions through proactive communication. This includes sending notifications via text, email and phone about meetings and key items. Key decisions will be shared in newsletters. Board meetings will include time for public feedback. I will propose creating advisory committees with parents, teachers and citizens to ensure decisions reflect community needs.
Manny Rodriguez: I will promote transparency by ensuring all board decisions, budgets and policies are clearly communicated to the public. I plan to hold regular community meetings, publishing easy-to-understand reports, and encouraging real input from parents, teachers and staff. Accountability starts with honest conversations and keeping the community informed every step of the way.
Gary Gandara: Did not respond.
What’s the next big challenge for SISD following the layoff plan and how would you address it?
Cindy Hernandez: The next challenge for SISD following the layoff plan is rebuilding staff morale and trust while maintaining efficiency. The layoff process lacked collaboration and transparency. Had we taken an “all-in” approach, cuts would have been made across all levels. I will focus on restoring trust by being transparent and involving all stakeholders in decision-making while maintaining collaboration and clear communication across all levels.
Manny Rodriguez: The next big challenge is Governor Abbott’s voucher scam, which threatens to defund public schools and harm low-income students — especially in communities like Sparks, where I grew up. Vouchers benefit the few at the expense of the many. I’ll fight to protect SISD’s funding, keep educators in classrooms, and ensure every child — no matter their ZIP code — has access to strong, fully funded public schools.
Gary Gandara: Did not respond.
The post Q&A: SISD District 5 Trustee Candidates in May 3 Uniform Election appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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