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

I have been on the Board of the Conroe ISD since November 2010 and have voted to reduce the tax rate by 1.5 cents during that time. I have a background in finance, accounting, and management and have provided tax payers a voice to assure  funds spent within Conroe ISD are used to advance  the education of all students while effectively managing costs. I have a very good understanding of public school finance  and the state funding formulas. I am a proponent of school safety and I also have a background in mental health and have been an advocate for students in Conroe ISD.

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

Conroe ISD is 348 square miles, with over 7,000 employees, over 60,000 students and continues to grow each year by approximately 1,500 students or more. Managing growth efficiently and effectively is  the biggest issue facing the District. Effectively managing growth in facilities, transportation, and finances are my top priorities.

Is this board currently fulfilling its obligations?

The Conroe ISD Board's primary responsibilities are: to contract the Superintendent;  to approve the budget; to approve policies; to set the tax rate; and to assure the policies of the District are performed in a cost efficient and academically successful manner. I beleive the School Board has fulfilled those duties.

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

Educational achievement should be a community goal. Education has been shown to increase economic growth and stability. It can also improve personal lives by promoting a fulfilled life. The more involved a community is in education, the better we become. I have always been a part of public education by reading to students, presenting to classes about money and banking, and talking with older students about ways they can become more productive  and well adjusted adults. It takes community involvement. 

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.

I have served on the Board of Conroe ISD and have been the President, Audit Committee Chair, Investment Committee Chair, Secretary, and Assistant Secretary. I have been past Chairman of the Board for The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce, The Woodlands Economic Development Partnership, Interfaith of the Woodlands and have volunteered or donated to Montgomery County Habitat for Humanity, American Heart Association,  South County YMCA, Rotary Club of The Woodlands, Montgomery County Youth Services,  Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce, Woodlands Church, The Woodlands United Methodist Church, and Celebration Church.

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

The three largest areas of expenditures for the Conroe ISD budget are: payroll at 89%, purchases and contracted services at 5% (the biggest item here is utilities), and 4% for supplies and materials (the biggest item here is fuel for transportation). I will continue to focus on a small administration (there were only two additional administrative positions added to this year's budget) with most of the payroll expense going to additional classroom teachers along with making sure we continue to manage and monitor our utility costs, and work to assure we provide the most fuel efficient vehicles at an effective cost.

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

I am not a believer that additional funding always solves problems. Improving educational outcomes should be a multi-faceted community approach. Students need to be able to come to school ready to learn. Sadly, many do not have the support away from school which means the schools must first meet basic needs. Conroe ISD has many programs to help support those students as respectfully and appropriately as possible.The state needs to look at school districts who have been recognized for their academic achievements and financial efficiencies and use those Districts as a model to improve. This may involve more funding but first would be to have accountability standards for school districts other than just state academic testing.

What is a proper balance of local and state funding?

Conroe ISD is projected to receive 74% of its budget from local funding and 26% from the state of Texas. This amount from the state continues to be reduced under the state's funding formula due to the "Robinhood" effect where growing school districts are penalized.  I think this trend should be reversed and the majority of funding for public education should come from the state rather than local funding. 

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

Increased student enrollment does not give the complete picture for budget considerations. Other factors to be considered would include teacher and support staffing  levels, adequate facilities, and transportation. I would work hard to assure that budgets are lean and do not include unnecessary items. 

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

Management styles differ by managers abilities. Appropriate staffing ratios may be different for elementary, intermediate, junior high and high schools. The size and the socio-economic status of the student population at each school may also affect staffing ratios. To my knowledge I am not aware of any standard staffing ratio of non-teachers to teachers.

What is proper gap between administration and teacher pay?

In every well managed organization there is a need for administration to provide accountability and transparency for the organization and to assure the mission and goals of the organization are met. Along with these different roles are differences in compensation. With this said, I am not aware of any standard measure to use except for the questions to be answered which are "how much value do you bring to the organization?" and "did the organization complete its assigned tasks (goals and mission)?" The state pay scale recognizes only increased tenure as a component of increased pay. It is important for this to be changed so that teachers can be compensated according to their value rather than only their tenure. 

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

The best way to assure low administrative costs and overhead is to look at financially efficient and academically successful school districts as a model for other districts to follow. Conroe ISD, the largest employer in Montgomery County, employs more than 7,000 and this  represents 89% of the Conroe ISD budget.  The other two largest expenses for the District are utility costs and fuel for transportation. I believe that every student in the District benefits from the educators in their classrooms along with all of the support staff who have the best interests of students in mind including assuring facilities are cleaned and maintained, that students are safe and that a professional learning environment can be achieved.

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?

Voters within Conroe ISD have approved the bonded indebtedness used to pay for all Conroe ISD facilities including stadiums. I serve on the Board to represent the tax payers and would listen closely to their thoughts on this subject. I do personally support assuring that all students have equal facilities.

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

Conroe ISD maintains accounts for General Fund, Debt Service Fund, Capital Projects Fund, and Food Service Fund. These amounts vary depending on how revenues are received and expenditures are paid. The District tries to keep approximately three months of expenses in reserve for increased enrollment, state funding adjustments, legislative changes, economic conditions, and any other unforseen instances such as natural disasters.

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

I was raised by a public school teacher and my mother was raised by two public school teachers. I feel that the teaching profession is a calling. YES I would like for public school teachers to be paid more. The issue is who will pay for it?  I do not have the answer to that question.

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

For a financially efficient District such as Conroe ISD, the only foreseen tax increase could come from a need for increased facilities due to student growth. Voter approval would be required for such a tax increase or to approve bonded indebtedness. 

How could CISD lower the tax rate?

The ad valorem tax rate for local funding could be lowered if the state of Texas would reform the state's school funding formula to provide more state funding or at least to adjust the "Robinhood" effect for Conroe ISD.

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

According to the Conroe ISD website under Debt Transparency the bonded indebtedness as of August 31, 2017 was $1,136,590,000. A District Facility Planning Committee may be formed in the coming months to address student growth and the need for new facilities, expanded facilities, and other major facility improvements.  At this point there is no indication of the amount for a potential 2019 bond election based on the results from the work of the Facility Planning Committee. My support would depend upon the findings of the Facility Planning Committee. 

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

Students must feel safe when coming to school. All of the Conroe ISD facilities have had major safety upgrades to help assure students feel safe. Conroe ISD police have been working closely with all other Montgomery County law enforcement agencies to increase patrols and law enforcement presence within Conroe ISD boundaries. The 2019 budget also includes increased staffing for the Conroe ISD police department. Safety is a constant thought of mine for all Conroe ISD teachers, students, staff, administrators, families and all others entering school facilities.

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

School safety is of paramount importance. Conroe ISD has a full time police department with officers specially trained. There are some school districts in Texas that do not have police departments and the local law enforcement may be many miles away and this may be an option for those districts. Conroe ISD teachers already have a big job of educating students and I am not sure that introducing firearms into classrooms is appropriate for those teachers since the District already has trained police officers.

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

I have never been arrested nor convicted as a result of an arrest.  I have never had any tax liens.

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

Yes. I believe that public officials should conduct themselves in a way that shows respect for the office in which they serve, by assuring they act ethically, honestly, and are trustworthy.

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

Conroe ISD is very transparent in their finances. On their website www.conroeisd.net anyone can go to Finance Department then to Texas Transparency and gain access to all financial information. I think the biggest improvement I can offer is to educate about the transparency of the District.

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?

Since I was eighteen years old (when I voted for Ronald Reagan) I have always voted in the Republican primary and supported Republican candidates.