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

I believe I am the best candidate for this position because I have a vested interest in CISD schools. My children have and still do attend CISD schools. I want the schools to be the best they can be for my children and all other students we serve. Second, I have served in Position 3 for the last four years and have seen first hand how school district policies and school board decisions affect our students. I have gained experience and contributed significantly. Third, I have kept the four promises I made four years ago. I worked to maintain low tax rate amidst unprecedented area growth. Even after the community passed a $500,000,000 bond in 2015, I helped keep out keep our tax rate at $1.28. There has been no increase in the 4 years I have served.  I gave great attention to our CISD budget. I worked to manage the budget efficiently and effectively while continually meeting the needs of the students in the district. I worked to expand high school vocational programs to meet student demands. I also evaluated the transportation needs of the district to best fit the needs of the students while minimizing student ride time. My involvement resulted in the purchase of new software to improve routes and shorten ride times. I also advocated for additional support staff in the transportation office. 

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

1. Student Safety  

2. Accomodating growth with 1500 new students coming into CISD schools each year

3. Keeping tax rate low

Is this board currently fulfilling its obligations?

Yes. Of course there is always room for improvement, but over all this board works hard to fulfill its obligation which primarily include hiring and monitoring the superintendent, making sure we have a balanced budget without any frivolous spending, & setting the tax rate.

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

To increase educatiional achievement, recruiting and retaining the best teachers is ciritical. Second in importance is supplying teachers with the tools they need to thrive and help students thrive in the classroom.

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.

Montgomery County CASA

Connecting Families of Montgomery County

Crisis Assistance Center of Montgomery County

Wounded Warriors

InterFaith of The Woodlands

BoyScouts of America

Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch

Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce

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

1. Transportation

2. Self-Funded Insurance Program

3. Investment Accounts

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

No

What is a proper balance of local and state funding?

I believe that school districts should go for the maximum allowed from the state and the minimum needed from the local. This style is a major contributor to keeping local tax rates as low as possible; however, in our district we have to also plan for the Robin Hood effect where the state takes money from the district.

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

Yes

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

About 50%

What is proper gap between administration and teacher pay?

There are several variables with regards to a gap between administration and teacher pay. The biggest variable is years of experience for the teacher. If an experienced teacher becomes an assistant principal, the increase in daily rate is fairly small, however administrators are required to work more days, which results in a higher salary. In addition, administrators are often required to work after hours (ex. - high school extracurricular events). In CISD, we use TASB to help set all professional salaries and our target is to be in the 75th percentile of all area districts.  

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

Oversight in Audit Committees  

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

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

CISD has about $136 million in the general account, which makes up for about 6 months of expenses.

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

Gov. Abbott has not outlined a specific plan, but has challeneged the Texas legislature to figure out how to make it happen.  He wants to recruit, retain, and reward talented teachers and keep them in Texas classrooms by increasing their pay without increasing property taxes. I'm interested in the idea and will be watching how the next legislative session addresses Gov. Abbott's idea.

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

If CISD needs a bond for more schools and additions to existing schools it could warrant a tax rate increase. Since 2014, we have grown by and average of 1500 students per year. That is the size of one junior high per year.  A school bond is appropriate for a school district in need of buildings and improvements.  Our 2015 bond was about $500 million and we had a proposed tax rate increase of $.01 to $.02.  Since we were diligent in the building of the schools, we did not have a tax rate increase. 

How could CISD lower the tax rate?

With over 77% of the budget going towards salaries, there are a few areas that could be addressed for a possible tax rate reduction such as:

Decrease in Self-Insurance Health Plan Premiums

Reduction in high cost maintenance equipment

Lowering electric costs

If state funding increases, our tax rate could be lowered accordingly 

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

The 2015 Bond was for about $500M and we have completed the expenditures of the bond and transferred the remaining $12M to the general account to be used for the purchase of land for future building.  

With CISD being one of the fastest growing districts in the State and Nation, we have a need for new schools, espically in East Montgomery County. Before the school board votes on placing a bond on the ballot for the community to vote, CISD  asks community leaders, teachers, administrators, and others in the community to be a part of a bond committee. After a series of bond committee meetings (of which CISD school board memebers are not allowed to be a part of), the bond committee makes a recommendation to the CISD School Board to put a bond election on the ballet for the community to vote on.  If there was a school bond proposal and if the bond committee recommends the school board place a bond election on the ballot for the community to ultimately decide, (and the recommended bond only addresses construction of new building, remodeling old buildings, replacement of warn out equipment, etc.) I would support the school bond and allow it to be place on the ballot for the community to vote on.

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

School safety is a high priority. In the wake of recent horrible school tragedies, we need to make sure all kids are and feel safe and secure in our schools. I have supported the additions of more police officers in schools, that every school entrance has two points of entry and that every visitor must be buzzed in and sign in prior to entering the school.  I have supported the addition of security cameras in more places, and the training of our teachers and administrators for emergencies. Along with Steve Toth, I initiated the first security and planning meeting held between CISD, Montgomery County Sheriff's department, Montgomery County Hospital District, and other local elected officials. I approved the addition of two additional crisis counselors for CISD to help kids in crisis as well as a pilot program that allows Tri-County Behavioral health to come into CISD schools to work with high risk students and their families.  

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

I fully support the initiative.  Most of the items address in Abbott's Marshall and Guardian plans has already been address by CISD.

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

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

CISD has received awards from the State of Texas because of our transparency.  I would continue to follow the same systems CISD has been using over the past 4 years.

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?

Republican - 100%