Q&A: Meet the candidates vying for Montgomery ISD trustee Position 4

What is your top priority if elected?

I want to continue the momentum that MISD has with our local legislators to help understand the formula the state uses for funding, each district throughout the status is funded differently. We need more consistency, so we know how to budget more effectively.

What is the biggest issue MISD is currently facing, and how would you address it?

Education is at a crossroads at the state and federal level, both systemically and philosophically. We need to continue to advocate for our teachers as well as keeping our students and faculty insulated from liberal viewpoints and beliefs. Montgomery is a conservative community and I intend to maintain those beliefs.

How can trustees help MISD prepare for anticipated student enrollment growth?

Prepare and plan. We can do that by listening to our community and educating them, and us, through committees and town hall meetings. We talk to demographers and developers about upcoming neighborhoods, that way we can strategically place campuses, similarly to how we went about the last bond.

How will you balance your responsibility to help MISD schools and students with your responsibility to the community when it comes to taxation?

As mentioned previously, we need to continue our positive relationship with our local state legislators (Creighton, Kolkhorst and Metcalf) to help keep more of our money here. Our community, and especially our students, deserve our best effort to keep local funding, local. We have to find a better way.

What is your top priority if elected?

Teacher hiring/retention. The availability of teachers has dwindled since COVID and in order for Montgomery ISD to attract and hire the best qualified teachers, we need to pay equal or more than our surrounding school districts. Starting teachers should be paid top dollar and current teachers deserve a raise.

What is the biggest issue MISD is currently facing, and how would you address it?

School funding. I would ensure that there are no frivolous expenditures within MISD’s limited budget. If there are, I would identify and eliminate those unnecessary costs in order to direct money towards our student’s education and extracurricular activities as well as teacher’s salaries.

How can trustees help MISD prepare for anticipated student enrollment growth?

We need to look at growth from a strategic level; meaning we need to look 5 to 10 years out and not at just the issues we are facing next year. We need to overestimate the growth by 10-15%, reducing the need to remodel future schools which is more expensive.

How will you balance your responsibility to help MISD schools and students with your responsibility to the community when it comes to taxation?