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Declining enrollment, fiscal oversight and technology’s role in the classroom were some of the many topics discussed at an April 1 forum hosted by the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership featuring three of the candidates running for Clear Creek ISD board of trustees Positions 2 and 3.
Early voting runs April 20-28, and election day is May 2.
Position 2
For this race, incumbent Jamieson Mackay is facing special education teacher Ernest Hallman.
Mackay said he is seeking reelection to continue serving the district and advocating for public education. During the discussion, he emphasized academic rigor as a key concern among community members.
“Parents want a more rigorous curriculum. As I said before, I'm glad that [the district] has made that one of our top priorities,” Mackay said. “We want that to go down all the way to the elementaries.”
Hallman said he is running to prioritize students who may be underserved by the current education system.
Hallman pointed to potential education gaps as students transition to secondary education.
“I don't think that's the fault of any educator. I don't think that's the fault of any parent,” Hallman said. “I just think we need to look at the curriculum and see if we can add things that will better prepare students for secondary education and the workforce.”
During the discussion, he emphasized teacher retention as it directly ties to student enrollment.
“My top two priorities would be teacher retention and student enrollment. I believe they go hand in hand,” Hallman said. “It's hard to keep quality teachers when we have less students enrolling.”
Mackay said that declining enrollment was the most significant challenge the district will face over the next three years.
“I really want to get this right,” Mackay said. “If we don't address this, we're going to end up having to make really tough decisions that the community is not going to enjoy.”
Click here to read Community Impact's Q&A for Position 2.
Position 3
For this race, incumbent Arturo Sanchez will face teacher Gabriel Gonzales.
Sanchez, director of the External Relations Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, was unable to attend the forum due to scheduling conflicts related to the Artemis II launch.
Gonzales said he is running to support public education and ensure every student has the necessary resources to succeed.
During the discussion, Gonzales highlighted the role of technology in the classroom while acknowledging the potential drawbacks.
“I love that technology has brought us to the point where we are but it is hindering our students,” Gonzales said. “Let's ask the teachers. Let's see what technology and programs are really working.”
Gonzales also emphasized the importance of school board transparency.
“One of my top priorities is letting the community know exactly where your money goes and what it's being spent on,” Gonzales said. “I believe that transparency is very important. Everybody in the community should be able to know who their school board representative is.”
Click here to read Community Impact's Q&A for Position 3.
