Have you ever been arrested? Ever had any tax liens? If so, start & resolution dates?

No and no!

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

For me, all expenditures in the district must be made transparent to the taxpayers.  Then they must be evaluated and analyzed for appropriateness, with a clear direction on how district expenditures directly benefit our children’s educational achievement.  So in short, transparency in finances is a significant way our school district can reform.  

What do you view as the top 3 issues facing your ISD in the next 5 years?

Issue 1:  Elementary academics.  There is an overwhelming lack of GT programming and consideration within the elementary school we attend.  

Issue 2:  Teacher pay.  Even with benefits we have the lowest salaries compared to neighboring districts, and the state.  And teachers are leaving because of it.  This is an obvious problem.

Issue 3:  Mental health.  I believe there to be a pending mental health crisis from students to teachers to admin, related to the after affects of covid and the seachange adjustments everyone has made in the last 12 months.  We need to be preparing mental health provisions (counseling, training, etc) now for students and teachers as we continue navigation in a mid (and hopefully soon) post pandemic world.

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

First, I am a devoted husband and father of two children in the district who are still in elementary school, so I have a long term vested interest in the health of our school district.  

Second, I have no ties (family or otherwise) to the current or previous administration or board, so I am a truly independent voice.  

Third, though I later earned a bachelors degree, I did not attend a 4-year University directly out of high school.  Instead, I started in the workforce.  My high school had a below average career and technical education (CTE) program and I do not wish the same for those students in Montgomery.  We need to build up our CTE program in MISD to better support those young adults, not anticipating a life at a university (and taking on significant financial burdens in the process).  

Is this board currently fulfilling its obligations?

When we started in the district, the board was not fulfilling its obligations.  The elementary GT programs deteriorated every year, and we were actually operating in a deficit spend mode, which is crazy given the amount of taxes we pay every year.  Recently, the board has started to right the ship, which is most encouraging...but anyone on the board since 2018 should be questioned.

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.

We are part of the MISD academic strategic program iniative.  We serve on the GT parent advisory board for the district.  I also serve of the CTE parent advisory board for the district.  We are regular attendees to the local school board meetings.  Our family actively participates in Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girls.  Through our church we’ve volunteered at Under Over Fellowship in downtown Conroe and frequently volunteered (prior to Covid) at Mercy House Global Market.  For years we have supported global missions through Compassion International, whose people are saints!

Professionally, I am an active member of IEEE.  And lastly, big one here, we cancelled our amazon account this year in an effort to shop and support local as much as possible.

What is your role as a board member?

My role as a board member at MISD will be to advocate first for all the children in the district.

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

As stated previously, I believe all expenditures in the district must be made transparent to the taxpayers.  Then they must be evaluated and analyzed for appropriateness, with a clear direction on how district expenditures directly benefit our children’s educational achievement.

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

I'm not entire informed on all current expenditures and overages.  In speaking with admins, teachers, and other parents, I understand there may be excessive spending on custodial services.  That would be a great place to start.  I've also heard there are some overlapping bus routes and maybe excessive and/or unnecessary routes being taken in certain areas.  I would have to make a determination on other budget adjustments when more information is presented in the next board meeting.  We've been a bit hamstrung by covid measures and inclement weather recently.

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

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

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Do you support using zero-based budget practices for every governmental entity, elected and appointed?

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What is a proper balance of local and state funding?

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

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The Texas Education Agency has a Financial Integrity Rating System for ISD's What is your ISD's rating for this past year? If it is not superior please discuss your plan to improve this rating?

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Construction costs of Schools is skyrocketing. At the same time the school square footage per child is also skyrocketing. Does the ISD need to build these amenity-rich buildings?

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Please discuss to what extent tax revenues should be used for non-academic programs/purposes. Please list all non-academic programs you support and suggested additional revenue sources.

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Please explain why or why not local taxing entities should be required to get voter approval for a tax increase.

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

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Should lawmakers require that local government entities hold a school tax ratification or school bond proposition election in November or is any time okay?

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

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

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ISD's are one of the largest abusers to taxpayer funded lobbying. Will you commit to stop the funding of taxpayer funded lobbying?

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School Districts have drawn a "Wizard of Oz" curtain over much of their curriculum in recent years with the replacement of text books with online curriculum. What will you do to make "full disclosure" of ALL curriculum to parents and ensure that parental notification of potentially controversial materials is 100% followed?

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What level of school safety is appropriate? Please describe all the safety approaches you are aware of and your opinion of each.

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