Area School Board Candidate Questionaire

Published Thursday, May 1, 2008

By Staff

We asked each candidate in contested races for school board the following questions in addition to brief biographical information:

1. Rank the following issues by importance and emphasis: academics, athletics, band and fine arts, facilities, technology, transportation, vocational programs

2. Rank the following groups as a resource for information in making decisions: administration, parents and teachers, taxpayers, fellow school board members.

3. What is your primary reason for seeking a place on the school board? continue the direction and policies of the district, change the direction and policies of the district, lower the tax rate

Candidates were asked to keep their answers to 50 words or less to explain their rankings and position on the issue.

ALVORD

Calvin M. Baker

Position sought: Alvord School Board Place 7
Occupation: Retired general contractor, 30 years experience building schools, libraries, banks, city buildings, etc.
Education: BBA-University of North Texas
Family: Six children, 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren

1. First are academics followed by technology. It is imperative that students stay up with change. Third is facilities. Good environment enhances learning. Fourth is vocational programs. A good start for students who do not attend college. Followed in no specific order: band, athletics, fine arts and transportation are all important.

2. The bulk of information that a school board member receives is from administration. They run the school district daily and forward necessary information routinely. The following groups are of equal importance and my decision making is equally received and considered from teachers, parents, taxpayers and other board members.

3. I am seeking reelection in order for the district to continue the direction it is going. Lowered taxes, passed a bond election and continued to improve facilities. Projects under construction are a new intermediate school and high school addition which includes additional classrooms, band hall and science labs. Most important is continued academic progress. (exceeded word limit)

Jeanette Ward

Position sought: Alvord School Board Place 7
Occupation: Photojournalist and reporter/part time bus driver
Education: High school; Art Institute of Houston, majored in photography
Family: Husband, Johnny; daughters, Jennifer and Jordan

1. 1. Academics, 2. technology, 3. athletics, band and fine arts and vocational programs and facilities and transportation - I find it hard to separate and rank these issues because they are all part of the number one issue and that is academics. Of course, technology is high on the list because like it or not, we all have to grow in that field or be left behind. (exceeded word limit)

2. Again, it's hard to rank these resources. But if I must, since parents and teachers are the closest to the students, I would have to say that is where I would start collecting information to make educated decisions that affect AISD students. Next would be the taxpayers, because after all, they are funding the whole thing. (exceeded word limit)

3. For that question, I'll quote the 4-H motto, "To make the best better." I think we have a great school here with an amazing collection of teachers. We are growing leaps and bounds, excelling on the TAKS and managing to do this on a shoestring budget. (exceeded word limit)

BOYD

Annette Williams

Position sought: Boyd School Board, Place 2
Occupation: Owner of The Movie Store and Pizza Pro in Boyd. Began business June 20, 1988.
Current coach of the Boyd Buzz basketball performance group.
Education: Graduate of Boyd High School class of 1981
Family: Married to Rafe Williams, daughter Amanda (senior) and son Travis (freshman)

1. Academics. We must support and hire the best qualified teachers to enable students to succeed inside the classroom and in everyday life. Facilities. With the current passing of the bond, Boyd ISD has a long-range plan and the resources to build and expand badly needed facilities. Athletics, band, fine arts and vocational programs. (exceeded word limit)

2. The best resource for information in the decision making process comes from the administration. The current administration is very professional and works successfully with the faculty and parents. The fellow school board members provide personal insight. Everyone is a taxpayer.

3. My primary reason for seeking a place on the school board is to continue the direction and policies of the district.

CHICO

Audie Morris

Position sought: Chico School Board Place 4
Occupation: Professional firefighter, Denton
Education: Chico High School, 1974; Texas A&M University, 1978
Family: Wife Lynn, daughter April

1. Academics are always number one, followed by technology and facilities, with a well-rounded portion of athletics, band, vocational programs and fine arts. We need to offer the best education for our students with the most "bang for the buck" of our taxpayers' dollar. A well-rounded education includes all the programs listed above.

2. Taxpayers, parents and teachers, administration, fellow school board members. We are elected to represent each of these groups and work with fellow school board members to make the proper decision. A good decision cannot be made without the best information available from all sources, at the time. We need to involve each group listed to be a successful school district.

3. I would like to help continue the direction our district is headed. We also have a large building program in progress that is very important to the taxpayers and students for years to come. Another issue is the hiring of a new school superintendent. The new administration will have a huge impact on Chico ISD. (exceeded word limit)

Mark Tate

Position sought: Chico School Board Place 6 (incumbent)
Occupation: President/CEO of 5 Tate Inc., DBA, T Top Manufacturing in Chico
Education: Northwest ISD graduate; B.S. in Industrial Technology and Engineering from Tarleton State University
Family: Parents are Robert and Linda Tate of Crafton; Carrie, wife for 19 years; one son, Austin, a sophomore at Chico High; and two daughters, Casey, eighth grade, and Corey, sixth grade

1. Our district is in the process of building a new elementary and high school. I want to be involved with that process and assist in the planning for future growth. I feel that with these new schools will come the needed growth to help our athletic programs improve with more participants, our academics will improve with the addition of newer technology and additional teachers.

2. For information purposes all groups are important. We need input from all. Everyone has a different opinion about things and they should all be looked at. Some decisions may not require input from all groups, but for policy changes or something that affects the whole group, we should involve the whole group.

3. I want to do all I can to assure that we continue with all the positive changes being made in our district. These new campuses will give Chico ISD a fresh new platform on which to build our future through the highest quality education we can give our kids.

G.A. Buckner

Position sought: Chico School Board Place 6
Occupation: Owner of Chico Butane Gas Co.
Education: High school
Family: Three daughters and six grandchildren

1. Academics, technology, vocational programs, facilities, band, fine arts and athletics

2. Administration, parents and teachers, fellow school board members and tax payers

3. Continue the direction and policies of the district while keeping the best interest of the children in mind.

DECTAUR

Jeff Alling, M.D.

Position sought: DISD School Board
Occupation: Physician
Education: Valedictorian, Graford High School; Texas A&M University, bachelor of science; Texas A&M College of Medicine, doctor of medicine; OU Health Science Center, family medicine residency; Board Certified in Family Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Family: Wife, Natalie; sons, Nathan (DHS '10), Jonathan (DHS '11); daughters, Hannah (DHS '13), Sarah (DHS '15)

1. I believe that each student is important. Therefore, each of these issues vary in importance depending on the students' needs. Students have the God-given ability to excel in one of these areas and not always others. I believe it is our responsibility to provide excellent resources in each area, thereby enabling each student to reach their maximum potential in life.

2. I believe in personal responsibility. It is ultimately the parents' responsibility to ensure their children's educational needs are met. The school board should enable administration and teachers to be able to meet their goals in working together for the students.

3. I believe my business, academic and parenting experiences give me a unique perspective in dealing with the big picture. I will work to improve DISD in ways that will improve our students' opportunities in the ever-changing world. I will give the same attention and detail to the school's financial policies that I give to my personal finances.

Marty Keller

Position sought: DISD School Board Position 4
Occupation: Pilot, American Airlines; Registered Nurse (Dialysis), Wise Regional Health Systems
Education: B.S. accounting from Pennsylvania State University; Undergraduate pilot training, United States Air Force; associate's degree nursing, North Central Texas College; school board candidate training
Family: Wife, Sheryl. Children: Elise (Middle School), Andie (Intermediate School), Riley (Rann Elementary)

1. I believe in improving student academic achievement at all levels and in attracting and retaining superior instructors. Our children deserve to be challenged in many aspects of learning, as we are challenged in many aspects of daily life. The school district must provide every opportunity for our students to excel in school and, more importantly, in life.

2. The fundamentals of decision making require one to gather as much information from as many sources, as reasonable, to make a sound, informed decision. Parents, teachers, students, tax-payers all have voices to be heard. I feel that using the most experienced resources with the most accurate information will lead to the best decisions for the children in our school district.

3. The opportunity to serve the children of Decatur has been the driving force behind my decision to seek the Board position. I have attended at least six board meetings this year and from each meeting I have left more motivated and inspired to serve the students of our district. (exceeded word limit)

NORTHWEST

Devonna Walker Holland

Position sought: Northwest School Board Place 5
Occupation: Compass Bank vice president and banking center manager
Education: B.B.A. Baylor University, 1985 graduate; teaching assistant at University of Texas at Dallas, 1986-1990; American Bankers Association National Commercial Lending School, 2005
Family: First grade son, Keillor, at Justin Elementary School; Married to Michael Holland since 1990; Daughter of Rev. Larry and Carmen Walker of Dallas

1. Academics, technology, facilities, transportation, athletics, band and fine arts, vocational programs - While each of these areas is vitally important, academics must be a top priority. We must be certain that each NISD student receives a premier education, with high standards, rigorous curriculum development and top-quality programs that will allow all NISD students to be successful learners.

2. Parents and teachers, administration, taxpayers, fellow school board members - Parents and teachers are at the forefront of the learning process; they can best guide educational strategies and develop superior programs. As a member of NISD's Long-Range Planning Committee, I know the district will continually depend on parents and teachers to address issues that fast-paced growth brings.

3. I hope to continue the positive direction and policies of the Northwest ISD. If we maintain our present level of improvement, while building new schools each year and teaching an ever-increasing student population, we will position our district along a positive path in our pursuit of excellence.

Dr. Brent Stephens

Position sought: Northwest School Board Place 7
Occupation: Leadership development
Education: Doctorate of management in organizational leadership; masters' degree in social work
Family: Married to Stephanie, a dietitian; four children, three in the district and one pre-schooler

1. Academics, facilities, technology and transportation relate directly to the primary focus of educating the students. The vocational programs are essential to prepare our students for the workplace. Band and fine arts are also important as healthy, stimulated students perform better academically.

2. All are equally important but each resource needs to be approached for decisions in how it affects them. Administration for administrative issues, parents and teachers for student issues, taxpayers for financial issues and fellow school board members in making the best decision for the students.

3. Through active involvement in the long-range planning for the past three years, I can provide leadership and support in helping the district become the best in Texas. My goals are to support continued development of the academic, band and fine arts, technology, vocational programs and athletic program success.

Mel Fuller

Position sought: Northwest School Board Place 7
Occupation: Educational consultant
Education: M.Ed. - educational administration; B.B.A. - business administration
Family: Married with two children

1. The most important issue facing our school is academics. With the growing population we must keep in mind that all students deserve the same opportunities for a strong academic program. Our facilities, vocational and extracurricular programs are just as important as they provide a connection to learning for all students.

2. It is up to the administration to present the facts; however we need the whole community to get involved with our schools. One of the responsibilities of being a member of the school board means that we need all information that is relevant to the situation to make decisions.

3. The main reason that I'm seeking a place on the board is to continue the direction and policies of the district. The district is providing a great education to students, we're hiring and retaining the best teachers in the state, and we are being very good stewards of our resources.

Joe Montero

Position sought: Northwest School Board Place 5
Occupation: retired classroom teacher
Education: BSSED from NTSU 1976, ESL endorsement from TWU 1985
Family: Two daughters, two granddaughters

1. Academics, athletics, band and fine arts, facilities, technology, transportation, vocational programs - As a retired teacher my most important issue is academics. The school district is monitored by the state based on how well the district does on standardized tests. Even though other programs are also important, they are not used to establish the state credibility of a district.

2. Every group is important in the decision making of a school district, but in my opinion the most important is that of the parents and teachers. Teachers know what they need to make a student successful and successful students give a district recognition.

3. My primary reason for seeking a place on the school board is to help achieve a student-to-teacher ratio that creates a better learning environment. NISD is a great district and I would like to see it continue the success it has now.