Incumbent Larry D. Bradley will face a challenge from Matt Robertson and Cliff Styles for Pflugerville ISD Board of Trustees Place 6.

Robertson responded to the questionnaire from Community Impact Newspaper. His answers are published with limited editing.

1.     Experience

I have always tried to volunteer my time in the service of something bigger than myself. When I was younger it was my sense of patriotism that led to my service to country as a medic in the 4th of the 42nd Field Artillery. I have volunteered as a PTO member, vice president, and president of Brookhollow Elementary, a volunteer and PTO member of Park Crest Middle School, and a booster club parent and volunteer of Pflugerville High School. I was, and still am today, very active in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, serving as  den leader, assistant cubmaster, cubmaster, and assistant scoutmaster for my son Josh and many other kids. I volunteered and actively participated with my daughter in the Girl Scouts of America, in band and athletics. I began teaching religious education classes at our church, volunteering when there was a shortage of teachers for my sons grade level. I continued on to instruct my daughter’s grade level and still teach. I attended HOA meetings and served on my neighborhood HOA board as a member at large, vice president, and currently as president for the fourth year, managing a community budget of 516 families. I have been actively attending PfISD board meetings for the past three years.

2. What are the major issues you see facing the Pflugerville ISD and what are the solutions?

The issue of growth is still very prevalent in our district. With the recent upheaval of leadership positions and the addition of Mott Elementary and Weiss High School, new leadership is required to ensure a strong start for these new schools and the district growth. There is also a section of teachers and parents who feel like their concerns are not being heard. Recently parents and teachers attended the March board meeting to express their concerns over the lack of exemptions and the new boundaries set by rezoning. Programs like safe school zones were pitched to the board and petitioners have yet to hear any response. While we are preparing for the success of our newest schools, we cannot fail to remember to take care of our older schools. Many older schools have smaller yet concerning issues that we need to make sure to address. We must commit to ensuring they won’t be lost in the excitement of the new growth. The board that is currently in place has had many opportunities to respond to the needs and concerns of our parents, teachers, and community. The action needed to address these issues is to elect new leadership that will take action after they listen.

3.     What are your thoughts on PfISD becoming a District of Innovation?

The ability to exempt ourselves from almost the entire Texas Education Code seems like something that may cause more harm than good. If we are seeking to become a district of innovation solely to change the beginning of the school year, It should take the appointed committee to put that plan into place. If other things are being considered, an extreme amount of trust will be placed into the trustees hands who vote on the final approval of the committee's recommendations. An exemption from the mandatory amount of time teachers are given to plan and prepare each day may be taken under the impression of giving the teachers more freedom to commit to other projects or to institute a grade level planning period or training. Once the exemption is taken though, it is possible it could be used out of the context. A DOI is a very powerful tool that can certainly be used to make a district stronger. But exemptions should not be taken as a convenience or tool to save money in necessary areas. When deciding on becoming a DOI, ego and taking back control should never be a motivating factor.