FortBendNow.com

Three of the four candidates for seats on the Katy ISD Board of Trustees fielded a series of prepared questions yesterday during a candidate forum hosted by the Katy Area Retired Educators.

 

The forum took place at the Merrell Center during KARE’s regular monthly luncheon before a crowd of more than 70 retired education professionals.

 

Ross Raymond, II, candidate for the Position 6 seat, and Neal Howard and Stacy Edwards-Tomdio, both seeking Position 7 spot on the school board, took part. Incumbent Position 6 Trustee Robert Shaw was unable to attend.

 

Position 7 incumbent Tom Law did not file for re-election.

 

Moderator David Chastain gave each candidate two minutes to provide personal information and state their qualifications, and then asked a series of prepared questions.

 

In introducing himself, Raymond, a longtime school volunteer, said he has lived in Katy ISD for the past 32 years and wants to bring a fresh perspective to the school board.

 

“We have a fabulous district out here, but it needs a little remodeling,” Raymond said. “I am running because I can make a serious contribution to the district.”

 

Howard, a petroleum engineer, said he was running on four basic values. Those include representing the entire district, valuing educators, promoting excellence in all district programs and fostering improved communication of the district’s long-term vision.

 

Tomdio, an eight-year resident of the district, said she wanted to “encourage adequate and excellent education for all children.”

 

A KARE representative read a portion of a prepared statement from Shaw; however, the entire statement could not be read because of the two-minute time limit.

 

In the portion of the statement read, Shaw noted that the school board was “an oversight body, not a decision-making body” as many people think, and that going to single-member school board districts was “not a viable approach” at this time.

 

The first question posed to the candidates involved what they saw as the basic duties of a school trustee.

 

Tomdio said those duties included “having an open mind to listen to views even if they are opposing ones” and to “dig down deep” to find financing options. She also re-stated her goal to encourage “excellent and adequate education” for all children.

 

Howard said he saw the school board’s responsibilities as setting high goals for the administration and school district and then holding the administration accountable for meeting those goals.

 

“I think that is what school board members should be doing,” he said.

 

Raymond said trustees should focus on providing supervision over the superintendent, setting goals, watching district finances and providing leadership in the district.

 

Candidates were then asked what the most important task the school board needed to address immediately following the election.

 

Howard said trustees should quickly review long-term facilities needs.

 

Raymond noted the district typically undertakes long-term planning for facilities and other “brick and mortar” needs. He would like to see the district to engage in similar long-term planning for its personnel.

 

“I think we should turn our attention to our people,” he said. “The bricks and mortar will pretty much take care of themselves.”

 

Tomdio said she agreed with the other two candidates and believed the school board needed to focus on teachers and schools.

 

Chastain then read a question about facility needs, noting many campuses still have portable buildings and some children eat lunch as early as 10 a.m. or as late as just before final period because of cafeteria overcrowding. He asked the candidates if any of their children had experienced those situations and whether they would support a bond issue to address facility overcrowding problems.

 

Raymond said his kids experienced “a little of both of that,” including eating lunch early and “just before the buses came.” Before endorsing a bond issue, however, he said he would need to see details.

 

“You’re going to have to show me what you’re going to put in that bond issue before I support it,” Raymond said. “If the question is having adequate cafeteria space, yes, I support having enough cafeteria space.”

 

Tomdio said her children, too, had been scheduled for classes in portable buildings and given lunch at odd times. Like Raymond, she said she would have to see what the bond issue contained before deciding to support it.

 

“If there was a bond election, I’d have to go back and read it before I say yes or no,” she said.

 

Howard said his children had also experienced both problems and that he would support any bond issue the school board voted to bring to the voters.

 

“I would support it even if I didn’t necessarily agree with everything on it. I would not be against a bond issue just because of one thing I don’t agree with,” Howard said.

 

Chastain then recounted problems some Katy schools previously experienced with errors in supplemental teaching materials such as workbooks. He asked the candidates if they thought the district’s textbook review process should be altered.

 

Tomdio said she would.

 

“Of course; we don’t want flaws in our schoolbooks,” she said.

 

Howard said errors in educational materials “made the burden on teachers greater than it’s supposed to be,” but did not believe reviewing textbooks was the job of the school board.

 

“I don’t believe that’s the best use of (the school board’s) time,” he said.

 

Howard added that reviewing textbooks was “a statewide deal.”

 

Raymond also noted textbook content was the responsibility of the state, but supplementals such as workbooks are often provided by a vendor at the district level.

 

“We have to go back to the source and get that corrected,” Raymond said. “If it’s broken, let’s fix it.”

 

The trio was also asked how the tax rate in the district could be reduced. Tomdio said she did not know.

 

“That is a hard one to answer,” she said. “I will get back with you when I’ve done my research on that matter.”

 

Howard said reducing taxes was not a part of his agenda.

 

“My goal isn’t to cut taxes. My goal is to provide services to the kids in the community,” Howard said.

 

Raymond was even more direct in responding to the tax question.

 

“It can’t be done. I wish we could (cut taxes), but anyone who tells you we can is just not telling the truth,” Raymond said. “I’m just concerned we’re going to have to cut instructional funding even with the current tax rate.”

 

Another question posed to the candidates dealt with the deteriorating condition of the Katy High School’s Ninth Grade Center. The three were asked if the district needed to make repairing the facility a priority.

 

Howard said he had not been to the center, but though the district needed to address facility needs through a bond issue in a “planned, organized way.”

 

Raymond also said he was not familiar with the condition of the ninth-grade center but if repairs are needed, they should be done.

 

“We have to fix it. If it needs it, common sense dictates we fix it,” Raymond said.

 

Tomdio said she agreed with the other two candidates and wanted “what’s best for the children.”

 

Following the question-and-answer session, the candidates were given a chance to summarize why they were best qualified to serve on the school board.

 

Tomdio repeated she was dedicated to ensuring “adequate, excellent education.” She also said she would bring diversity to the school board and would “work for the good of all children.”

 

Howard again pointed to the four core values of his campaign, saying he would represent the entire district, ensure educators are valued, preserve extra-curricular activities and work to communicate the district’s long-term vision.

 

Raymond said he would bring a fresh vision to the school board. He praised the current trustees as “good individuals” but said any group occasionally needs new blood.

 

“Sometimes what we need is a re-vision with fresh eyes,” Raymond said. “We have a wonderful district, but there are some things we need to address.”

 

He added that he had a vision for preparing all students for life following high school and increasing pay for district educators.