What makes you qualified for this office?  Name three main reasons you believe you’re the best candidate for this position?

• I am a parent in the CISD schools with over a decade of experience supporting our children, educators, and staff, through the PTO, and other school  and civic organizations.
• With my extensive business experience in real estate, I've received a wide range of input from taxpayers in Montgomery county, and surrounding areas, to understand what our greatest concerns are regarding taxes and education. These experiences have made me well-informed and readily equipped to represent students, teachers, parents, and the taxpayers of CISD.
• I am a peacemaker who enjoys bringing all sides together to find common ground. With our dynamic community, you need someone who can listen and find resolutions for all concerns.

What are the 3 largest challenges currently facing this position/office and your road map to address them?

• Growth-As Montgomery County continues to attract businesses and residents, CISD will continue to grow in student population. The current trend and forecast shows a gain of 1500 new students a year. We need to ensure we can meet our growth needs while also maintaining our excellent education standards.
• School Taxes-School taxes are the largest portion of the Montgomery County Tax Bill.  The school tax rate has not increased and was actually decreased in the years 2013/2014-2015/2016. Taxes have continued to increase due to the value of property in the county. CISD has worked diligently to make sure every dollar is used wisely and I will continue to do the same.
• Education-Standardized testing cripples the education system. We need to continue fighting for state and federal testing mandates to be decreased.  We have some of the best teachers in the country at CISD, and it's important to make sure that they have the ability to teach as they see appropriate in regards to the educational needs for each student.

Is this board currently fulfilling its obligations?

Yes, I believe the current board is working diligently to find solutions that benefit our Teachers, Students, and Administrators - without adding burden to the taxpayer.

What is one significant way that your ISD can reform itself to increase educational achievement?

The school should be in constant contact with our legislatures, and congressmen, about the policies that they put in place regarding education. I believe that the standardized testing mandates are crippling our education system and we need to see that those mandates are greatly decreased.  I would also like to see more control given to school districts regarding the best way to educate their students.

What special interest groups have you belonged to or attended meetings of? Include business, social, civic, educational, environmental or any other cause for which you have advocated or supported with time or money.

• The Woodlands Republican Women,
• Rotary Club of The Woodlands,
• The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce,
• Junior League of The Woodlands,
• National Charity League, Inc.,
• Montgomery County Women’s Council of Organizations,
• Montgomery County Association of Business Women,
• Alden Bridge Village Association
• Houston Association of Realtors,
• Texas Association of Realtors,
• National Association of Realtors (including a graduate of the Texas Realtor Leadership Program)
• The Woodlands High School PTO, Current Program Chair( I have served at David Elementary, Collins Int and Mitchell Int, Knox Jr High and as President at McCullough Jr High)

What are the top 3 areas where the budget for this ISD needs to be adjusted?

• Use more of our 25% Unassigned Fund Balance, as outlined by the TASB Guidelines to fund capital projects
• Continue to watch and assess vendor contracts, especially those pertaining to construction contracts.
• Offer more flexibility to campuses to price shop for smaller misc. items

Do you believe a lack of funding from the state is the primary reason for lower educational outcomes compared to other states or nations.

For the past 8 years CISD has received a 5 Star Rating from Texas Smart Schools and is one of only 3 Districts that continues to receive this rating.  The lack of funding from the state has caused more burden on individual/taxpaying households, not education.

What is a proper balance of local and state funding?

I would like to see our schools be 100% locally funded.  I fully believe that we should be sending our tax dollars for schools to our local school districts directly, without the state acting like a middleman. With the State in control of our dollars, they attach restrictions regarding how to educate, thus taking away our local authority. Also, we do not get all of our tax dollars back as some of the money gets redistributed to other districts.

Will you vote to limit budget increases to a factor based on student enrollment growth?

Yes. We need to work within a budget that is fair to taxpayers and stick to it. Our budget should never increase higher than inflation + student enrollment.

What is the appropriate staffing ratio of non-teachers to teachers?

Each individual School Administration should have the flexibility to assess the needs of each classroom need, dependent on the subject and class.

What is proper gap between administration and teacher pay?

I don't think there is a black-and-white answer for this. We need to be looking at Private Industry and see how they are doing it. When there is a comparable job in the Private Industry, we should be looking at the averages and match pay based on that.

What can school districts do to ensure more of existing education funds are spent on educational purposes, rather than administration and overhead?

CISD has shown their priority in spending to fund 80% in educational and employee support. I will also continue to support this type of balance in spending.

Do you oppose the use of public funds, other than for needed infrastructure, to subsidize the cost of private facilities such as stadiums, arenas and other such entities?

Yes, without voter approval, public funds should not be used to fund such things. Currently, voters do have to approve such expenditures. When CISD brought the Woodforest Stadium to the voters it was brought as a separate bond.

I would continue to keep any similar type expenditures separate bond issues.

How much money does ISD have in their bank account for "contingencies"? How much is statutorially required to keep on hand?

The state of Texas requires each district to have a balanced budget and the TASB recommends 3 months of expenditures on hand in case of emergency.  CISD sets aside 25% and in the past years has had approx. 10 million to use at the end of the year.  In the past those funds have been used to support capital progects, reduce our bond debt requirements and cover unforeseen expenditures.  Going forward to the 2019 budget that surplus will go towards buses, school sites, support capital projects, to reduce bond debt requirements and cover any unforeseen expenditures.

What are your thoughts on Governor Abbott's plan to increase teacher pay to $100,000?

Unfortunatly Governor Abbotts comments are not realistic, nor outlined in details.   There has been no plan or mention of how this statement will be paid for  and I don’t believe it will be brought to committee for discussion in the 2019 Legislative session.

What needs in your ISD would justify a tax rate increase?

As our community grows, so does our tax base.  In order to justify a tax rate increase, there would need to be an anticipated and great need to build more schools to meet a population demand or some sort of emergency requirement for additional funds not allocated.

How could CISD lower the tax rate?

CISD  currently has the tax lowest rate, next to HISD.  This rate was lowered in the fiscal years 2012/2013, 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 and has held at the same rate for 4 years.  The former and current Superintendent are making it a priority to keep the rate as low as possible.

What is CISD's current (2017) bond indebtedness? There is talk of a new bond in 2019. Will you support it and why?

CISD’s indebtedness at the end of 2017 was at 1.1 billion. The current Bond is coming to an end. Yes, there is talk of a new bond and a request will be made to the Board of Trustees to form an exploratory committee this fall.  It would be premature to state my support or lack of support at this time.

What level of school safety is appropriate? What ideas do you have  to make our campuses more safe?

CISD has been on the forefront of school safety.  The district implemented plans years ago to harden our schools front offices.  The district has made it a priority to support, train and maintain an active CISD police force who along with our County Agencies have created emergency preparedness plans. CISD has also consistently looked for ways to team with other government/local entities to help.  The newly formed partnership with Tri County Health Services is in its trial stages in regards to student mental health.  This partnership looks to be an excellent way to tackle the need in mental health services and if successful I would look to continue to expand the partnership.  I would also like to see more implementation of programs regarding topics of resilience, bullying and anxiety for parents and students.  This information could be brought to students and parents through speakers and class curriculum when appropriate.

What are your thoughts on Governor Abbott's Marshall and Guardian Plans?

We are very fortunate at CISD to have a fully trained and armed police force.  We also reside in a county that has action plans already in place to cover all jurisdictions.  I want our teachers and administrators, to teach and run our schools.  I don't want them to have the added burden of keeping and managing a firearm/firearms.  Of course, ongoing emergency training is vital to assist our trained officers, but our teachers and administrators do not need a firearm.

Also, as the Legislative session opens in 2019 some of Gov. Abbott's suggestions will be open to debate, vote and implementation.   I would ask and encourage all of our local leaders going to Austin to make sure no mandate is across the board.  We must be able to assess our needs as a school board for our specific district.

Have you ever been convicted as result of arrest?  Ever had any tax liens? If so, give start & resolution dates?

no

Do you believe the private conduct of a public official is relevant to that official’s suitability for office?

Yes, the conduct of a person can be determinant of their character.

How will you improve the transparency and access to financial and other records of ISD for the public?

CISD is required to follow all State and Federal guidelines regarding transparency of records. Board of Trustee members must also follow those guidelines.

What political party have you affilated with over the last twenty years? Do you believe in that party platform(all of it or % part - if %, please describe what you disagree with?

I am a Republican. I  have been a Republican since I cast my first vote. I'm involved in our local Republican party, and I will continue to be. I can't say that I one hundred percent agree with every single item in the Republican platform, especially since it changes. I do agree with the basic ideals of the Republican party, which is that government should be limited to those powers as laid out by the Constitution of the United States.  This includes the protection of life, free speech, and the right to keep and bear arms, all of which I hold of utmost value.