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

 my education and background of what makes me the most qualified candidate for this position . 1)  having been a teacher for many years, I know the duties and responsibilities to help make sure students are placed in the best possible position for success , 2)  my finance background has enabled me to see ways to use taxpayer money as efficiently and is effectively as possible, I am a friend to the taxpayer , 3)  my background in insurance and risk mitigation will help me identify potential risks, student safety is a priority. 

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

The top three biggest issues facing see ISD in the next five years are growth and enrollment, school safety, and  making sure that new dollars and up in the classroom and with teachers, and not with administration and bureaucracy 

Is this board currently fulfilling its obligations?

 I feel the current board is doing an adequate job with  it’s current vision and direction .  That vision does not currently include, education excellence at a lower cost to the taxpayer.  In light of the explosive appraisal district Gross in property, virtually any board could be And good financial footing in the current environment.  While we are currently paying multi million dollar sports stadiums, six figure digit income is two administrators and football coaches, dollars must be redirected to the classroom .  Eventually the bills have to be paid, and if that happens during economic downturn or leveling off of appraisals, which hopefully will come, we must build an educational model to accommodate that scenario .

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

 One way school district can reform themselves to reach educational excellence, is a strong stand against any type of common core, see scope, or other nationalized or Washington-based liberal ideology. Schools need to return to the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic  and be educating students So they can get  hired into the jobs of tomorrow. 

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’ve been actively involved in numerous organizations, primarily political.  But I have also been very active in youth soccer in Conroe, posting children to live in our home through CPS another child advocate situations,  and I have worked in and supported Southern Baptist men disaster relief. 

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

Administrator salaries, football stadiums and facades on existing buildings, and coaches salaries

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

 Absolutely not, this is a leftist liberal ideology that is  an enemy of the taxpayer .  More bureaucratic red tape and the associated expenses does not translate to a  educational excellence.  The state of Texas currently give more money to  education then at any time in Texas history.  The solution is not more money, the solution is a focus on education and discipline.

What is a proper balance of local and state funding?

 I don’t believe there’s a perfect answer on this question for every school district.  But with CISD and it’s rapid expansion and population growth, I do believe the state should be paying more of the burden in this district .

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

 Absolutely yes, budgets should begin with a zero base and work up from there. I would like to believe I am very open-minded, I would even be willing to start with existing budget and then have no increases other than population growth.

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

 That might be a district by district situation, however the current ratio and CISD is 17 support staff for every 22 teachers, almost one to one. This trend has been growing in the wrong direction.

What is proper gap between administration and teacher pay?

 Specifically  this will depend on the  administrator and teacher.  Currently that ratio is around 3.5 to 1.  I would encourage it to be closer to 2.25 to 1. 

Teacher earns 50k, admin around 125-150k

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

 School district board of directors need to hold administration salaries and expenses in check .  Ultimately, the parents elect the school board, the school board is then to set the vision and budgets for the administrators who are the hired people of the district to fill that vision .  Administrators are not the rulers of the school district, the parents and taxpayers are.

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?

 I believe the ISD has close to $180 million on hand.  It is also my believe, that about 30,000,000 to 40,000,000 of that is statutorily required. If my research the numbers are correct, it is inappropriate for the school district to sit on $70 million of  taxpayer money for a slush fund.

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

 I would like teachers along with all people to earn the highest possible wages the market dictates . Philosophically, I’m against the state issuing mandatory or statutory rates for employees. I believe paying excellent teachers a higher wage is appropriate, but a minimum teacher wage is totally inappropriate.

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

 In the current scenario where property appraised values are skyrocketing, I can think of no justifiable reason for Conroe ISD to increase  The tax rate .

How could CISD lower the tax rate?

 The tax rate could be lowered, and allowing Austin to fill gaps. This is the current funding mechanism in Texas, and be used more locally. The rate could also be lowered to maintain the effective tax rate year to year. 

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

 The current bond indebtedness is far too much. I have his Dorichlee always voted against school bond and have encouraged others to vote no on school bonds.  No, I will not support a new bond in 2019, they’ve recently added a half 1 billion Bond, and the appraisal increases every saved multiple millions more . School districts must learn to operate within an appropriate budget

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

 School safety for our children is a tough priority .  Many of the Conroe ISD schools have been built in various styles, functions, and forms . A campus by campus analysis would be necessary of each school to determine best hardening solutions, egress and ingress points, and student safety

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

 As was stated in my platform, school safety of our students must be a priority . I am totally supportive of districts using any methods necessary to protect their students. Using licensed Belize, the Marshall plan, or the Guardian plan are all viable solutions. 

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

 No I have not been arrested.  No I do not have any tax liens. 

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

 Yes, the private life of public officials is a concern for their public leader ship .  While I do not expect public officials to be perfect, I do expect a pattern of ethical, moral, and legal behavior . 

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

 I would advocate to make the financial records easier to access. It is taken me quite a bit of research to determine the total budget, where the monies go, what the administrators and principles are being paid, and other vital information concerning the budget. These figures should be easily accessible to the taxpayer. 

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 have been an active Republican for more than the past 20 years.  I have never voted for a Democrat, not a single time . The platform are critical and that they are what separates  The direction a public official should operate from . I support the Republican platform.