There are seven members of the Round Rock ISD board of trustees. This November voters in the district will choose four of them as nine candidates vie for a spot on the board. Terri Romere, Place 4 trustee, is running unopposed. The terms for Places 2 and 7 will expire in 2016.
To run for the RRISD board, a person must be at least 18 years old, a registered voter and a U.S. citizen, among other qualifications.
Each member of the board is elected at-large to a four-year term. Elections are staggered to take place once every two years.
The board serves as the district's publicly elected leaders. They are responsible for approving the district budget, hiring the superintendent, and deciding on capital improvement plans and infrastructure. Board members serve with no financial compensation.
Regular meetings of the board of trustees are held at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month
Answers were edited for space constraints.
Round Rock ISD Place 1
Claudio Cruz*
Cruz has lived in Round Rock for 10 years. He is a retired U.S. Servicemember, currently working for Austin ISD. He is the Place 1 incumbent.
Why are you running for the Round Rock ISD board of trustees?
I believe strongly that every citizen in this country has a duty and responsibility to serve in helping to build better communities... I have exemplified this in my life by serving my country and being active in my community, school and church. Our future is going to be dependent on leaders prepared to serve, and I am running to help ensure this happens.
What improvements would you make in the district?
The school board's main responsibility is to have in place the best superintendent available. We have that leader in Dr. Steve Flores. Are we satisfied? No. We march forward and continue to raise the bar: graduate more students and establish learning environments that foster innovation and respect for others.
Nikki Gonzales
Gonzales is a 10-year resident of Round Rock. She is a five-year member of the PTA. She works for Texas State Technical College as the director of operations for External Relations.
Why are you running for the Round Rock ISD board of trustees?
An excellent public education is the greatest gift we can give our kids. Innovation and continued forward progress in public education is vital to the foundation of our children's future so that they can be contributors to our community. RRISD needs the highest standard of education with leaders in place that ensure the standard remains dedicated to excellence.
What improvements would you make in the district?
RRISD has four schools without readily available resource officers. Resource officers are specially trained police officers that patrol schools and provide a secure setting so kids can learn in a safe environment. All children need to have equally protected schools. Every citizen needs to encourage our city council to hire additional resource officers immediately.
Round Rock ISD Place 3
Bryan Black
Black serves on the executive board of the Canyon Vista Middle School PTA and is the director of communications for the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Why are you running for the Round Rock ISD board of trustees?
I believe our schools have the responsibility to provide a world-class education for our children and be efficient and accountable with tax dollars. We can absolutely do both, and that's why I am running to be the next trustee in Place 3. I will be an advocate for teachers and administrators, ensuring we fight for their needs so we can recruit and retain the best educators in Texas.
What improvements would you make in the district?
We need an improvement in the Place 3 Trustee position; the current occupant has failed our district. Our students, parents and taxpayers deserve new leadership. Working with teachers and administrators, we must increase the success of the district's lower-performing schools. Let's target funds to the classroom where kids can utilize new technology and innovation.
Diana Cox*
Cox is a member of the Best Buddies Texas board, which helps students with disabilities. She is the Place 3 incumbent.
Why are you running for the Round Rock ISD board of trustees?
My passion for providing a world-class public education for all students continues driving me today as much as it did when I started as an RRISD trustee. I'm confident my experience is needed to continue finding that balance of funding and exemplary education while providing our taxpayers with a recognized, efficient fiscal management system.
What improvements would you make in the district?
[I would work] with our superintendent, community, students and staff to develop a new strategic plan for the district. This plan should address such things as systems, structures, fiscal efficiency, teaching, learning, leadership development, culture and climate. [I would also] establish a better system for rolling out and communicating new initiatives.
Round Rock ISD Place 5
Suzi David
David has worked in education for 15 years and has lived in the Round Rock district since 1989. She has two children, one in RRISD and one graduate.
Why are you running for the Round Rock ISD board of trustees?
I am an active and involved parent that wants to ensure the district's focus stays on our students. I value Round Rock's focus on education and want to serve our community and our kids through hard work and commitment.
What improvements would you make in the district?
I think RRISD does a great job doing whatever it takes to educate every student. I would only offer fresh ideas on how to continue as an exemplary school district that focuses on our students and the next generation.
Paul K. Emerson
Emerson is a father and grandfather who has lived in Round Rock for more than 10 years. He has been involved in RRISD bond committees.
Why are you running for the Round Rock ISD board of trustees?
All children deserve an education that will provide them with the ability to achieve their goals in life and to also be able to better compete academically on a regional and international level. A school board member should be a team player, non-partisan, serve the needs of all students and be able to build strong relationships between the district and the public.
What improvements would you make in the district?
I would work to further improve the overcrowding that is occurring in the district and develop a cohesiveness among the other board members. I want to serve Round Rock children, parents and teachers by prioritizing and addressing problems and concerns with timely, up-front solutions, not partisan slogans or political schemes.
Allen McKee
McKee grew up in Belmont. He is now vice president of sales and marketing for PJS, a business that has created more than 800 jobs.
Why are you running for the Round Rock ISD board of trustees?
I have been heavily involved in RRISD as a parent and community member for the last two years. In that time I have seen things, some good and some not so good, that have led me to decide I want to be a part of the leadership for RRISD. All of the kids in this district deserve the best education we can provide, and the community deserves to have their tax dollars spent wisely.
What improvements would you make in the district?
Accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility: I will make it my personal mission to ensure our district is a world class environment where great administrators and exceptional teachers want to work. As a parent, I have been actively involved in advocating for the children and teachers in this district.
Round Rock ISD Place 6
Tony A. Pitts
Pitts moved to Round Rock in 2006 and is a lawyer with three daughters. He is president of the Board for the Ryan's Crossing Home Owners Association.
Why are you running for the Round Rock ISD board of trustees?
I will represent those in our district who are concerned about equal allocation and dedication of resources throughout the district, and [I] will challenge the notion that it is anything less than alarming that an entire contingent of our student body suffers under the designation of 'historically underperforming minority groups.'
What improvements would you make in the district?
I would challenge the district to keep uniform its growth and allocation of resources amongst all of our schools. I would also examine the disparate performance of our student populations of color and seek to tackle the issues giving rise to it. I would also take whatever action is necessary to fix the problems at schools in our district that many actively avoid.
Paul J. Tisch*
Tisch is a 14-year resident of Round Rock and president of the Cat Hollow Home Owners Association. He is the Place 6 incumbent.
Why are you running for the Round Rock ISD board of trustees?
I want to continue serving the children of RRISD. After being appointed in May 2013, my learning curve was very steep but rewarding, having had the opportunity to hire the current superintendent and pass a $299 million bond package during my first year. As a parent in the district, I see firsthand the efforts of this and past boards.
What improvements would you make in the district?
As Round Rock ISD moves from first-class to world-class we must remain committed to our students. Part of that commitment is maintaining our assets to ensure that our facilities remain second to none. As we move toward building a long-term master plan, we must continue to invest in the maintenance and repair of our aging assets.
