Despite an executive order issued last week by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and absent any response to requests for further guidance, local school officials seemed determined this week to continue with a special May 2 vote on the proposed consolidation of Canadian and Higgins ISDs.

In an executive order issued on March 31, Gov. Abbott advised local officials across the state to postpone May 2 elections in order to safeguard the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. In guidance from the Texas secretary of state’s office sent out two weeks ago, election officials were advised they would have to act immediately to reschedule May 2 elections to coincide with the Nov. 3 general election. The order also extended social-distancing guidelines through April 30, defined essential services, and extended school closures across the state through May 4. The postponement of the May 2 elections,

The postponement of the May 2 elections, however, jeopardizes the special elections scheduled in both Higgins and Canadian to consolidate those two school districts. The consolidation has already been approved by both the Canadian and Higgins school boards but requires approval of voters in both districts. That decision must be made prior to the July 1 school-consolidation deadline.

With the future of the consolidation election in jeopardy, CISD Superintendent Lynn Pulliam immediately reached out to state elected officials, seeking some form of relief from the executive order. Dr. Pulliam told school trustees Tuesday evening that he had contacted the offices of Education Commissioner Mike Morath, the Texas Education Agency, and Gov. Abbott, hoping to negotiate some reasonable alternative election date before July 1, or some other reasonable pathway to the election.

“We need a pathway to consolidation,” he told the board. “I’ve been keeping state Rep. Ken King and state Sen. Kel Seliger in the loop on what we’ve done. Ken is still really optimistic and thinks something is going to happen to allow us to move forward.”

“He is optimistic. I’m optimistic,” Dr. Pulliam said, adding that in the absence of any response or guidance from the state, the school district would proceed with the consolidation election as scheduled.

“We will start mailing [election] flyers out, and will include precautionary measures, including curbside voting,” he said. “I wish I had better news, and could say definitely for sure this is what will happen.”

City of Canadian officials voted in a called meeting last week to cancel the city council election. That vote was to have been conducted in a joint May 2 election with the school district.

Higgins ISD Superintendent Kristy Waite told The Record that the Higgins City Council had voted 4-1 last week to move forward with their council election, despite advice from both the city attorney and secretary of state’s office that they could be vulnerable to an election challenge.

Waite said she and her school board intend to proceed with the May 2 election, as well, noting that they would take precautionary measures to protect voters. Among those actions, she said, they plan to allow only one person at a time to vote, and will put up plexiglass and have disinfecting wipes on hand. She also mentioned that many of the voters are older and will be voting by mail.

Dr. Pulliam said Canadian ISD is making arrangements to provide curbside voting on Election Day, and will provide masks and hand sanitizer for citizens who cast their ballots at the central polling place in the Canadian High School foyer. Meanwhile, several mail-in ballots have already been received, and early voting begins at the Canadian ISD administration building on Monday, April 20, and continues through Tuesday, April 28.