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Two candidates—incumbent Gary Hammons and Nate Robb—are running in the election May 7 for Montgomery ISD board of trustees Position 7. Early voting begins April 25.
Candidate responses may have been edited for length, style and clarity.
Click here for more information on voting in Montgomery County.
Why are you running for election?
I am very proud of what has been accomplished in my first term. I think I can still add value to the board if I am re-elected. Specifically, I believe my work experience and qualifications provide a unique viewpoint when discussing financial matters.
In what two areas do you believe Montgomery ISD could improve?
MISD is striving for excellence in all areas, but the two I think that are higher on the list is teacher/employee pay increases to try and be competitive with surrounding districts, and secondly, the challenges that will come due to the rapid growth in the Montgomery area. Although this isn’t an area for improvement, I think it is a priority for MISD.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing Montgomery ISD, and how do you plan to address these, if elected?
As previously mentioned, the rapid growth in the area that is zoned to MISD will be a challenge. The current bond proposal will be the first step in addressing the growth, but the influx of additional students will stretch the capacity of some schools before new facilities are available.
What would you do specifically as a trustee to involve residents and district stakeholders in the board's decision-making processes?
All MISD board trustees can be contacted through the district website by email, as well as through at least one social media site. Monthly board meetings are posted, and public comment is encouraged. My specific approach is to give my personal number and offer to discuss any topic that is relevant when the opportunity is presented.
Why are you running for election?
After being asked to be a part of the bond task force and finding out all of the challenges that MISD is facing, I decided that I wanted to help on a much larger scale. ... I’m passionate about the proposed centralized CTE center; I feel that it will not only benefit the college-ready kids, but also be huge for the students not geared for college. I will also bring my passion, business sense and leadership skills to supporting the district in a variety of important staffing, growth and disciplinary decisions we face in years to come.
In what two areas do you believe Montgomery ISD could improve?
I believe that all MISD employees should be compensated comparable to our surrounding districts. ... We should also examine the length of employee contracts. ... I believe we need to be better prepared for the growth. Enrollment growth is coming wether we like it or not.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing Montgomery ISD, and how do you plan to address these, if elected?
I believe the biggest challenge is staying ahead of what is coming. As a community, [we] have to find a way to grow the district while carrying the integrity of a small town. I would push for monthly monitoring of our population growth in order to stay a step ahead. ... As a businessman, I believe we can do more to enhance the school’s finances. The district has taken many steps to balance the budget, increase teacher and staff pay, and improve finance and HR processes. Cost saving opportunities, like energy efficiency efforts, need to be studied and implemented.
What would you do specifically as a trustee to involve residents and district stakeholders in the board's decision-making processes?
I believe that parents are an intricate part of our district and need to be involved with the curriculum and the governance of our board. As a board member, I will help to encourage parents to get involved, not only in after-school activities but in all educational aspects as well. I want to bring the engagement of parents back into our schools.
