What you need to know
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
An asterisk indicates incumbent.
Scott Bowen*
Experience:
two-term incumbent, CCISD graduate. Hired Superintendent Engle, wrote necessary policies, balanced the budget
Occupation:
chemical engineer
Candidate Website:
https://www.facebook.com/scottbowenCCISD
Contact Information:
713-825-4470
What are your priorities, if elected?
Increasing teacher/staff pay. Keeping students safe: Enhanced security, discipline and zero tolerance for bullying and drug use. Maintaining high academic standards, prioritizing traditional education (including phonics), reducing device dependence. Increasing free time and recess for children. Expanding career and technical education. Lowering tax rates and opposing unnecessary renovations/bonds.
What changes, if any, would you like to see with the district’s budget?
Prioritize keeping money in classrooms, core education and impactful extracurriculars. Increase enrollment and ensure no empty seats in schools. End programs that are underutilized and ineffective. Keep lowering taxes and avoid unnecessary renovations and bonds. Pay teachers and staff competitively.
Should the district address declining enrollment? If so, how?
Decline in enrollment is because the district is largely built out and new parents are moving to new subdivisions outside the district. Open enrollment will help with this, and we need to ensure our academic and programs are world class so parents keep sending their children to CCISD schools.
Would you support the district going for a bond within the next year to keep up with facility and technology upgrades?
No. Property taxes are already too high and we still have maintenance and technology to complete on our existing bonds. Once those are done we can re-evaluate critical needs.
What do you think the state should do to support education?
Eliminating the [State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness] test is the single biggest thing the state can do to improve education. Additional funding will help us continue to innovate and improve, and we also need more flexibility to maintain higher disciplinary standards than the law currently allows.
Rebecca Lilley
Experience:
35-year resident, parent, board member Clear Creek Education Foundation
Occupation:
Community, Physician Engagement Director, Memorial Hermann
Candidate Website:
https://www.facebook.com/share/18a9CXJoNN/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Contact Information:
N/A
What are your priorities, if elected?
The main priority is tackling the financial and funding challenges. This needs to be accomplished while ensuring that we continue to serve each and every child well and retain our talented teachers and staff. I would like to collaborate with board members and the superintendent to ensure teachers and students…
What changes, if any, would you like to see with the district’s budget?
First would be to understand how legislative action will impact the district's budget. The current CCISD budget does a great job of utilizing the funding that is appropriated.
Should the district address declining enrollment? If so, how?
The district has successfully implemented limited open enrollment options to address the declining enrollment. I believe in continuing to monitor the outcomes and effectiveness of this to maintain programs of excellence for our students.
Would you support the district going for a bond within the next year to keep up with facility and technology upgrades?
There are priority repairs that were identified by the citizens facility advisory committee in 2023 but not included in that bond package. I would support the district going for a bond to address these priority needs.
What do you think the state should do to support education?
The state should fully fund public education, which includes increasing the basic allotment by over $1,000. Texas is the second wealthiest state in the nation and ranks 41st in funding of students. The state cannot sustain a voucher program while also fully funding public schools.
