Clayton Myhre Clayton Myhre[/caption]

Clayton Myhre is running for the McKinney ISD board of trustees Place 2 seat against Kenneth Ussery. Early voting runs April 24-May 2, and election day is May 6.

Occupation:


I am the regional chief estimator for JPI Companies, a national developer and builder of Class A multifamily apartments based in Irving, Texas.

Why are you running for the school board?


I bring 34 years of commercial construction experience and balancing budgets to the MISD school board. From 1994-2008, my wife and I had four children attend and graduate from all three McKinney high schools. I’ve experienced the teacher dedication, quality education and seen the financial frustration as our city has grown to more than 170,000 people. I will use my professional talents and experience to improve our school system for the next generations.

What issues do you think the district will face in the near future?



  • Decreasing state funding to school district that causes greater tax burden on homeowners

  • Increasing communication gap between the school and parents


If elected, how would you help address those issues?



  • Post the budgets/checkbook online (Taxparency) for the community to see where tax dollars are spent

  • Meet with local state representative and senator on state school funding reform, including repeal of Robin Hood
    (Chapter 41)

  • Assist the city in bringing more businesses—industrial, hi-tech, etc.—to McKinney; this will help reduce the tax
    burden on homeowners

  • Review budget and purchase processes for opportunities to make tax dollars go further

  • Provide a means for the community to provide feedback on what their concerns are via website, hotline, monthly forums

  • Reach out and attend meetings [of] the school PTAs and parents to bring back their concerns to the board and staff to address their specific concerns

  • Strive to lower the teacher-student ratio

  • Ensure our priority in spending is on educating the students

  • Focus on maximizing diversity in curriculum choices for all students


What qualifications do you feel you have that make you a prime candidate?


I have a diverse background as a successful pre-construction and operations manager in construction environments in U.S. and internationally. I am a strong leader with analytical skills, technical knowledge, hands-on building experience, business know-how, and customer orientation with a successful history in designing, budgeting, implementing and managing construction projects. Those skills translate well to being on the school board.

I have an excellent temperament and work well with others' ideas. Currently I work with architects, engineering consultants, developers, owners and interior designers to develop a project from concept to completion by bringing the group together within the parameters of everyone’s agenda. I’ve used those same skills while serving on local city boards and both school and city bond campaigns to better our community and schools. I want to continue to make sure that MISD students are the best-prepared students for life after school, whether that’s college, trade schools or joining the workforce.