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. For more information about voting in Harris County, visit www.harrisvotes.com. For more information about voting in Montgomery County, visit www.elections.mctx.org.
John E. McStravick (Incumbent)
Experience:
22-year TISD trustee; attorney; professional engineer; CEO; booster club/parent teacher organization member
Occupation:
attorney
Candidate Website:
https://www.keeptomballthriving.com
Why are you running for election?
For our students and this community. As a graduate of THS, and father of Tomball ISD graduates, I have a love and passion for this community and Tomball ISD. I want to ensure Tomball ISD continues the high standards of student achievement, community values and conservative fiscal management.
What will your top two priorities be if elected?
The successful completion of Bond 2021 and continuous improvement for our students in academic success and college/career/military readiness, all in a fiscally sound manner while enhancing the safe and secure learning environment of all campuses and facilities.
As a growing district, what challenges do you believe Tomball ISD faces, and how will you help address those challenges?
Enrollment growth presents many significant challenges for the District, from facilities to transportation to maintaining our culture. Likewise, (lack of) State funding and unfunded mandates continue to present real challenges. However, these are not new to the Tomball ISD. I have experience as a trustee in successfully addressing them.
Projects are beginning from TISD’s 2021 bond. How will you approach overseeing these projects and spending bond dollars?
By ensuring our voters receive the projects they approved in Bond 2021 in a cost-effective manner, while dealing with high inflation and rising construction costs. My prior leadership/experience on the Board, during four prior bond programs, places me in a unique position to effectively assist with this challenge.
What steps will you take to further communication between TISD and residents?
Over the past five years, great strides have been made to intentionally increase effective communication to all stakeholders (e.g., podcasts, Instagram, SMORE, Peachjar, Community Conversations). I will continue to challenge and support Dr. Z in enhancing content shared over effective communication platforms, while exploring new/different platforms to further TISD’s reach.
Jennifer Kratky
Experience:
member of TISD School Health Advisory Council; advisory board member for a private Houston-based scholarship foundation; professional experience as corporate financial analyst
Occupation:
stay-at-home mom
Candidate Website:
https://www.jenniferfortisd.com
Contact Information:
[email protected]
Why are you running for election?
I’m a concerned mom standing up to protect traditional values. Increasingly, state and national organizations are pushing agendas that conflict with our Christian beliefs. I will be a strong voice for fellow parents of currently enrolled students, in upholding our local values while maintaining academic and extracurricular excellence.
What will your top two priorities be if elected?
Implementing exit surveys for both families who un-enroll their children and teachers/staff who leave the district. Test scores, which determine our district ratings, are important but they are not everything. Other satisfaction components should be measured and addressed. Also, I will remove the obscene books from our school libraries.
As a growing district, what challenges do you believe Tomball ISD faces, and how will you help address those challenges?
Teacher retention: We need to listen to the concerns of our teachers and give them a platform to share their ideas for solutions, without fear of retaliation. Re-zoning: As we build new campuses, we need to obtain reliable demographic forecasts and use a decision-making process that respects families with transparency.
Projects are beginning from TISD’s 2021 bond. How will you approach overseeing these projects and spending bond dollars?
I will adhere to the Harris County Republican Party principles by not accepting bids from construction firms who contributed thousands of dollars to the “Vote YES for the Bond” marketing campaign. I fully support building new schools for needed capacity, but the process must be ethical from end-to-end.
What steps will you take to further communication between TISD and residents?
I will urge TISD to fully comply with the Texas Open Meetings Act by recording work session meetings where upcoming agenda items are discussed. I will advocate for easier methods for residents to register to speak at school board meetings (online or phone). I will host informal town hall-style meetings.
Brandon C. Batchelor
Experience:
11 years as public servant (public school teacher, department chair, mentor, district trainer, representative to state education conferences, committee member for campus culture and implementation)
Occupation:
human resources officer
Candidate Website:
https://sites.google.com/view/batchelor-advocatetomballisd/home
Why are you running for election?
I don't claim to tell a hairdresser how to do their job, the same for a doctor or engineer. After 11 years in the classroom the voice of a former teacher should be used to advocate directly in the decision of the district that impact those rooms.
What will your top two priorities be if elected?
Tomball ISD has achieved so much and all members of this community should be commended, and as we move forward steps to increase transparency in our processes and improved communication methods must be prioritized. Tomball is growing so dramatically, it's exciting and [we] must prepare accordingly.
As a growing district, what challenges do you believe Tomball ISD faces, and how will you help address those challenges?
As we get to serve more families it is imperative that we reinvest in our intentional and relatable approach that Tomball is known for that a larger district may struggle to maintain. We are not a small district but we can still have a personal approach.
Projects are beginning from TISD’s 2021 bond. How will you approach overseeing these projects and spending bond dollars?
To actively implement my own commitment to transparency and communication, I will advocate for steps to continually inform the public about how the votes from the 2021 Bond are responsibly and respectfully used to handle renovations, development projects and provide technology upgrades for our student body.
What steps will you take to further communication between TISD and residents?
Revisions to current policy on board meeting comments, social gatherings that allow more intentional conversations with board members and the residents, integration of the student body voice in more decision-making opportunities and the inclusion of more timely and effective measures of response to community members.
