Q&A: Keith Grant, incumbent Gary Blizzard running for Magnolia ISD Position 3 on the May 7 ballot

What inspired you to run for this position?

One good thing that came out of 2020 was that parents got a glimpse at what their kids were being taught in public schools, and I think it’s fair to say that most of them were not happy with what they saw. I am one such parent. My daughter is 4 years away from attending [Magnolia] ISD, so I need to get to work now to make sure that we have conservative schools in our conservative community.

What qualifications or prior experience do you possess for this position?

I have over 20 years of professional management experience. More importantly, I believe in integrity without compromise. I would never vote in favor of any policy, standard or action that did not line up with my morals and values. I have no problem swimming against the current if need be.

What will be your priorities on the board if elected?

There needs to be more transparency. From the way the budget is presented to the public to the way board business is disseminated, there is much more that could be done to be forthcoming. Also, I am passionate about improving education in our community and making sure more kids that choose to not attend college are successful after graduation. They deserve that follow through.

What would you say are the two biggest challenges the district faces in relation to growth, and how would you address them if elected?

As Magnolia continues to grow and develop, so must MISD. We currently have just under 14,000 students in our district. If the latest estimation holds, we’ll have 20,000 students by 2030. There are already people like Deanie Murry, our long range planner working on this issue. We will soon need more schools, more buses and more staff. I look forward to addressing this challenge as a team.

What inspired you to run for this position?

As a 16-year Christian conservative resident of Magnolia and parent of two college students who were educated from K-12 in MISD schools, I fully appreciate the importance of the quality education that MISD offers. I have a passion to see other students enjoy similar and better educational opportunities in the coming years. Students’ education is greatly enhanced whenever parents and teachers work together as a team, and I believe that successful parental engagement is critical to student achievement.

What qualifications or prior experience do you possess for this position?

Served on Magnolia ISD Parent Leadership Committee, have several years experience as school board trustee, and graduate of Texas Association of School Boards Leadership Program earning designation of Master Trustee. My servant leadership on this school board has provided a keen understanding of how to tackle many challenges as we continue pursuing excellence. Being a chemical engineering professor at Texas A&M University gives me additional insight as to results achieved in public schools and improvements needed.

What will be your priorities on the board if elected?

Fiscally responsible school funding, competitive teacher compensation, and students’ college & career readiness. Today’s students have more challenges than ever given the challenges that the pandemic left in our wake. We have significant ground to make up with our students and need experienced, dedicated board leadership to ensure accelerated progress. We will continue to ensure that no critical race theory curriculum is present in our schools.

What would you say are the two biggest challenges the district faces in relation to growth, and how would you address them if elected?

One, address expected district growth and school funding with a financially conservative and prudent approach. We need to accommodate growth while maintaining one of the lowest tax rates and debt per student in our county. Two, attract and retain outstanding instruction. … Experienced board leadership is essential to navigating through these challenges.