The candidates for Hays CISD Board of Trustees single-member District 5 are incumbent Marty Kanetzky and Debbie Muñoz, the wife of former Hays CISD board member Joe Muñoz. Below are their responses to questions from the Hays Free Press. The election will be Saturday, May 11. Early voting begins April 29 and runs through May 7 at the following locations: Buda Elementary School, Hays CISD Central Administration Office and Kyle City Hall.
Q: Why are you running for the Hays CISD Board of Trustees?
A: I am running for my second term on the Hays CISD Board of Trustees because I want to continue guiding the district as we strive to provide every student with the knowledge and educational experience they need to become productive members of society.
Q: What are the most pressing issues facing Hays CISD now and in the future?
A: We need to improve student academic results. Our students will ultimately be competing for acceptance into colleges and for the best jobs. We are obligated to provide them with the knowledge and skills they will need whether they choose to go straight into the workforce or continue their education in college or technical school.
Q: If elected, what are the top three things you want to accomplish in the first year on the dais?
A: Improve student academic results.
Increase individualized instruction opportunities.
Improve efficiency and accountability.
Q: Hays CISD currently holds more than $500 million in debt. How will you balance the district’s needs versus increasing debt?
A: I have continued to push for finding ways to save the district money without adversely affecting student learning. During my current term the district has refunded existing bonds 3 times (a 4th time is pending) at lower interest rates, already saving the district over $18 million (another $7million in savings is pending) over the life of the bonds. As our population increases, eventually requiring more classrooms for more students, we need to remember that no child has ever been educated by a fancy building – the important thing is what goes on inside that building.
Q: Do you think a public school district should provide sexual education as part of the instruction/curriculum? Why or why not?
A: Yes. Sex education is part of a well rounded education. I also believe parents should have the right to review the curriculum and determine if they want their own students to be provided with some of the more sensitive (or graphic) information.
Q: Do you support the use of CSCOPE as the curriculum management system for the district? Why or why not?
A: Yes. CSCOPE is not perfect, but it is robust and totally aligned with the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills). CSCOPE should be available to teachers as a resource and tool. Teachers should not be forced (and are not currently required by our district) to use the lesson plans. Parents are now rightly allowed online access to CSCOPE documents (with the exception of unit tests and answers). Like any other system there should be a continuous loop of feedback and improvement.
Q: There is discussion in the state legislature about training educators to carry handguns at school. Would you support having selected Hays CISD employees (at each campus that does not already have a School Resource Officer on staff) receive training and carry a concealed gun to school? Why or why not?
A: Yes. Having someone on campus that is trained properly and knows how to safely use a weapon to help protect our students and staff would be another deterrent to those who might want to do harm.
Q: Why should voters elect you over your opponent?
A: I will continue to push for improvements in student academic results. I will hold myself and the district accountable for actual results. I will continue to ask the tough questions and gather the information needed to make the right decisions. I will continue to be a diligent steward of the taxpayer’s money and hold myself to high standards of ethics and integrity.
Q: Why are you running for the Hays CISD Board of Trustees?
A: I am passionate about ensuring that our children receive a rich and vibrant education that encourages and promotes academic excellence. I am eager to be part of a team that plays a significant role in shaping their future. We have many challenges ahead of us – growth and funding issues, talent management, and socio-economic dynamics to name a few. Addressing these challenges by engaging our community in an effective and collaborative manner is essential to the continued success of our children. I believe I have the drive, the passion and the enthusiasm to tackle these challenges head on.
Q: What are the most pressing issues facing Hays CISD now and in the future?
A: Managing the district’s growth and funding challenges are the most pressing issues facing the district today and in the foreseeable future. Our district continues to be one of the fastest growing districts in the state. As a result, many of our children, especially those attending middle and elementary schools are currently experiencing overcrowded conditions, which threaten the safety of our children, impede effective learning environments and are simply not acceptable. In addition, while tax revenues in our area provide some relief, state funding continues to dwindle and the needs and costs of our district continue to escalate. We must create and maintain a culture of visionary planning and proactively engage in transparent and effective communication within our community to find solutions.
Q: If elected, what are the top three things you want to accomplish in the first year on the dais?
A: As a newly elected trustee, educating and familiarizing myself with the district’s policies, board governance and legal protocol at both the local and state levels will be a top priority.
I will strongly promote and support efforts to relieve overcrowded conditions in our schools, as well as efforts to reconstruct the entrances to our older schools so that access is limited to a single entry point.
And finally, we must continue to expand our efforts to recruit and retain the very best for our children. Our district leaders have taken great strides to bring compensation levels up to a comparable level within the central Texas area. However, we are still near the bottom when compared to other districts. I believe we must work together to make Hays CISD the employer of choice!
Q: Hays CISD holds more that $500 million in debt. How will you balance the district’s needs versus increasing debt?
A: Working collaboratively with all the various stakeholders, including school administrators, educators, legislators, and tax payers, is essential to finding the balance that is right for this district. My vision for my term is to have regularly scheduled focus group meetings within the community that foster collaboration and consensus building to find unique, innovative and fiscally responsible solutions. In addition, we must continually review and amend the strategic initiatives already adopted by the board and hold administrators and fellow trustees accountable to ensure that the district’s needs are being met with minimal impact to the district’s debt.
Q: Do you think a public school district should provide sexual education as part of the instruction/curriculum? Why or why not?
A: This is a very good question! I have my own personal opinion about how to best educate my son in this regard. However, my personal opinion is but one of many in this district. As an elected official representing the entire district, I would reach out to our community to find a solution that works best for all our students district-wide. I would also encourage parents to research this topic and decide what is best for their own children.
Q: Do you support the use of CSCOPE as the curriculum management system for the district? Why or why not?
A: This is also a great question. As I understand it, CSCOPE is a customizable, online curriculum management system that is used to assist schools in meeting the high standard of rigor and relevance required in the STARR assessments. Once again, my opinion is but one of many. I would reach out to the experts in this area, including the superintendent, the administrators and the teachers to evaluate whether CSCOPE continues to be an effective solution for our students as we continue to strive for academic excellence.
Q: There is discussion in the state legislature about training educators to carry handguns at school. Would you support having selected Hays CISD employees (at each campus that does not already have a School Resource Officer on staff) receive training and carry a concealed gun to school? Why or why not?
A: I believe that it takes more than a couple of classes and the right to carry a concealed weapon to effectively stop a potential threat. As a wife of a retired police officer, I know first-hand that it takes great discipline, extensive training, and exceptional skill to be fully capable of utilizing guns in a proper and effective manner. Once again, I believe it’s important to seek out the opinions of the entire community in this regard. We must work collaboratively to find a solution that is appropriate for our entire district.
Q: Why should voters elect you over your opponent?
A: As a parent of a Negley 5th grader and a recent Lehman graduate, I’m extremely familiar with the current needs of our students and have a vested interest in preserving and improving the overall quality of our schools well into the next decade. I have extensive work experience dealing with diverse and amazing people from all across the State of Texas. I have a passion for working with people, especially when working toward a common goal. I believe my experiences and background will bring a unique perspective to the board that may not be currently represented. I support open discussion and collaboration and believe that I can be the voice for District 5. I’m driven, enthusiastic and eager to work with you to make our schools better. I hope I have your support and vote on May 11th!
Q: If you could live the life of any historical figure, past or present, who would you want to be? Why?
A: Eleanor Roosevelt. She was one of the greatest women of the 20th century and was a strong advocate for humanitarian efforts. She was an incredible woman and an amazing leader!
