Northwest school board

Members are unpaid and serve three-year terms. The district's enrollment, which is nearly 12,000 students, is expected to double in the next five years and could reach 93,000 by 2027.

Place 5

The winner will replace Lynn Gamron, who has served since 1999.

Name: Devonna Walker Holland

Age: 45

City: Rhome

Occupation: Compass Bank vice president and Alliance branch manager

Online: none

Background: Holland, who has a bachelor's of business administration from Baylor University, has worked as a banker for 17 years. She is the vice president of the Northwest ISD Education Foundation and was chairwoman of the Northwest Metroport Chamber in 2007.

About the candidate: Holland said she wants to improve communication among the district, corporate world and Northwest community. She said she also wants to promote educational excellence while managing the district's anticipated growth.

Name: Joe Montero

Age: 58

City: Fort Worth

Occupation: Retired teacher

Online: none

Background: Montero taught English as a second language and Spanish in the Little Elm and Carrollton-Farmers Branch school districts for 26 years. He retired in 2005 and has never held political office.

About the candidate: As a longtime teacher, Montero said he is uniquely qualified to serve as a voice for teachers. His top priority is continuing the district's strong educational programs while maintaining low property taxes. Montero also said he wants to ensure that Hispanic families feel represented.

Place 6

Incumbent Davis Palmer, the school board president, is unopposed and will keep his seat until 2011.

Place 7

The winner will fill a vacancy on the board.

Name: Mel Fuller

Age: 42

City: Trophy Club

Occupation: Consultant for Early College High School, a program that helps high school students earn college credit

Online: none

Background: Fuller taught in the Northwest district for 10 years and worked for the Texas Education Agency for four years. He received a master's in education administration from the University of North Texas in 1995.

About the candidate: Fuller said he wants to maintain the recruitment, retention and development of excellent teachers. He said he also wants to serve as a steward of the district and help it use all the possible resources to succeed.

Name: Brent Stephens

Age: 49

City: Trophy Club

Occupation: Leadership development consultant

Online: none

Background: Stephens has served on the long-range planning committee for Northwest for the past two years and is on the District Education Improvement Plan Committee. He received a doctorate in management from the University of Phoenix last year.

About the candidate: Stephens said he wants to continue the board's good work and help steer the district while it deals with challenges related to rapid growth.

Bond proposal

Voters will be asked to decide on issuing $260 million in bonds to build eight schools, buy land for future schools and upgrade technology. The bond would not require a tax increase. The district's student population, which is just under 12,000, is expected to double in the next five years. Demographers say it could be near 90,000 by 2027.

Ballot language: "The issuance of $260,000,000 of bonds and levying the tax in payment thereof, including the costs of any credit agreements executed in connection with the bonds."