Published: May 08, 2008 11:31 am         

Candiates vie for GISD Board of Trustees

Two seats on the Gainesville ISD Board of Trustees are open, with both incumbents defending their position against a field of three challengers.

Candidates include: Place 1, incumbent Roy Brewer and challengers Rey Lizalde and Carl Mims; Place 2, incumbent Tommy Moore and challenger Raymond Root.

Getting to know the candidates

Roy Brewer, Place 1. Brewer is a lifelong resident of Gainesville and was educated in Gainesville schools and Cooke County College, he said.

“My lovely wife, Gayla, and I have been married for 28 years and have four children, Andrea, Cody, Elizabeth and Chisam all of whom have attended Gainesville schools,” Brewer said. “We have been involved with Brewer Family Miniature Horses, a family business since 1981, with my parents, Vern and Betty Brewer. The last two years I have invested in real estate. I have served on the executive board for several years for the American Miniature Horse Association, served as board member for Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, Gainesville Planning and Zoning Committee and the Frank Buck Zoological Society.

“I completed the Leadership Gainesville educational course before serving these local boards,” he continued. “My family has worked extensively with area youth programs and with Hillcrest Church of Christ. I am dedicated to the education of children with assurance that we can help them to succeed in life.”

Reynaldo Lizalde, Place 1. Lizalde, a native of Dallas, said he attended school at R.L. Turner High in Dallas but later attended Gainesville High School.

“... I did not graduate, but obtained my GED in ‘93 because I became a teenage parent,” Lizalde said. “I then went to Texas State Technical College in Waco where I received an Associate Degree in Automotive Technology in ‘94. I have worked as an automotive technician for 14 years, and presently own and operate Rey’s Auto Repair here in Gainesville since ‘04.”

Lizalde has three children: Rey Jr., 15; Temo, 12; and Julio, 11, with his wife, Dora, of 16 years. The family are members of First Hispanic Baptist Church in Gainesville where Rey and Dora are youth leaders.

Carl Mims, Place 1. No response received by press time.

Tommy Moore, Place 2. “I was born and raised in Gainesville,” Moore said. “I am a graduate from Gainesville ISD in 1986 and NCTC.”

Moore, who served four years in the U.S. Air Force and in Desert Storm, has been married for 21 years to Paula Moore. The couple has three daughters, all of whom were educated in GISD.

“My oldest currently attends the University of North Texas in Denton. My middle daughter will be attending Gainesville Junior High next year and my youngest will be attending Lee Intermediate,” he said.

Moore works for the Federal Aviation Administration as a Technical Operations Safety Auditor.

Raymond Root, Place 2. Root, who came to Cooke County with his family in 1983, has been employed with Texas Farm Bureau Insurance for 28 years.

“My wife, Chris and I have four grown sons,” he said. “I am extremely proud of their educational pursuits and the recognition of all four attaining the highest rank of Eagle in Boy Scouts of America. I have been employed with Texas Farm Bureau Insurance for 28 years. As Agency Manager for 23 years and I have gained invaluable experience with budgets, finances and relating to people.”

Root is a graduate of Howard Payne University and holds many designations his business organization, he said.

“I am a former Board of Trustee of Howard Payne University and currently serve on the building code board for the City of Gainesville,” Root said. “My family and I have attended First Baptist Church for 25 years.”

Each of the candidates were asked the below questions in a letter. Their written responses are as follows (with the exception of Mims who was contacted and spoken with, but whose reply to the interview questions was not received by press time).

What two main issues do you believe the GISD will face in the remainder of this fiscal year?

Lizalde: Moving Gainesville High School to its new building on Interstate Highway 35 and then moving Gainesville Junior High School to the former high school building would be a task that would take a lot of attention and diligence, according to Lizalde.

“(It’s) probably the completion of the new high school and of the renovation of the high school for the middle school students and probably the task of going through the selection of choosing the excellent teachers that will return next year,” he said.

Mims: No response by press time.

Brewer: “I believe the most important issue is that our students continue to improve their results of the TAKS testing that is now ongoing,” Brewer said. “Through in-depth investigation of problem areas and specially structured TAKS tutorials, I am very hopeful that our district is eliminating the gaps that some of our students have, especially in the weaker areas of math and science.”

Another area of concern Brewer noted is identifying ways to bring back students to our district that have transferred to other local districts, inviting the input of the public. He also said moving students from the junior high school building on Denton Street to the high school on Lindsay Street is a priority.

“... I feel confident that we will see a return of some previous students as well as new “move ins” who will enjoy a very impressive learning environment,” he said.

Root: “I believe GISD will be facing two areas of concern for the remaining year,” Root said. “One is upgrading of facilities for the junior high and transition of high school students into the new facilities. It is important that we continue moving forward to upgrade the improvements needed to house our junior high students as quickly as possible. The transition of high school students into a new building with new dress standards will be a positive and productive movement for this to occur.

“The second area of concern is the decline in total enrollment of students within the district. There are a number of students who are transferring to surrounding districts and the dropout ratio is evident by the students I see around town during the day who need to be in school.”

Moore: Budgeting, as well as the high school transition, was one of Moore’s top two priorities — “Transitioning from the current high school facility to the new high school facility and beginning the renovation of the current high school to a new middle school campus. Secondly, to develop and approve the district budget for the 2008-09 school year.”

Do you feel GISD should seek to implement as many dual-credit classes with North Central Texas College as possible as a cost-saving measure and to prepare students for college, or do you believe the high school should maintain distinct programs and curricula as often as possible?

Mims: No response by press time.

Brewer: “I believe the answer to this important issue is to make sure our alignment with North Central Texas College in dual credit courses ensures great benefits to our students without undue burden while giving those students an advantage to build toward success in life, whether it be college or their vocation,” Brewer said.

Lizalde: “Yes, I agree with the dual-credit classes with NCTC, our students in the GISD could benefit so much with the dual-credit, I see it as a jump start to what could be some real life careers for them. Introducing our students to college life could motivate them to continue their education after high school. Also partnering with NCTC could be very beneficial for both parties,” he said.

Moore: “As a sitting board member, I totally support a student having the opportunity to attend college while completing their high school education,” Moore said. “One goal of mine is to see high school graduates from Gainesville ISD also receive an associate’s degree from NCTC at the same time. The money the GISD saves in collaboration with NCTC will allow for the creation/expansion of additional opportunities for our students. An examples of this is the creation and implementation of a television station housed within the new high school, that will be operated by GISD students. Students will be reporting on events that will be broadcasted into the community via the local cable station.”

Root: “I support the dual-credit arrangement the high school offers students who desire to go to college,” he said. “I feel this is a win-win opportunity for students and the district. I have had two sons graduate from GISD with dual-credit hours which have transferred to universities. This has helped them obtain a ‘jump start’ on their educational process and has saved me money, too.”

Which programs (if any) do you believe GISD should add or reintroduce within the next five years; and do you feel any should be eliminated or phased out?

Lizalde: “I would support all programs that would motivate students to stay in school, make good choices and programs that would give students tools to bring out the best in them,” Lizalde said. “Programs like Project Turning Point, a mentoring program for young people who need a positive person to encourage them which I recently joined, I am seeing good results from.”

Mims: No response by press time.

Brewer: “First of all, I want to make it clear that, along with the rest of the existing board members, I have never intended for the agriculture program we have to be eliminated,” Brewer said. “We are looking for ways to improve and expand the existing program especially since Gainesville is strongly an agricultural community. We need to offer as many vocational programs as possible to give our students multiple options and a foundation to build from before they exit high school. If more of them had at least a minimal knowledge in the area of carpentry, plumbing, electrical, welding, etc., they may at least be able to get a job in a field that has good pay even if they elect to forego college.”

He continued: “I have a dream that not only locally but statewide a program should be mandated to educate our children with lifelong skills such as budgeting, financial investment for the future, how to avoid credit card debt, how to give successful job interviews, and multiple others facets that would truly prepare our students for successful ‘lifelong situations.’”

Moore: “As stated before we are adding a television station, with the possibility of expanding into radio. We are adding core (math/science) classes as mandated by the state and are looking to implement a class in oceanography. The welding program offered in the past will be expanded to assist students with achieving certification and increasing the ability of our students to obtain jobs in local industries.

“I am excited about the GISD’s new athletic director and his enthusiasm to build a district athletic program. One area we are enhancing is we are starting a girl’s soccer team which has been a desire and a request of many students.”

Root: “I am not able to truthfully comment on current programs without further research. It is imperative we be good stewards of the resources available to us, which includes personnel, finances and use of facilities,” Root said.

Do you support the current administration’s plan to improve academic performance and TAKS test scores at Gainesville High School in lieu of the 2006 “academically unacceptable” TEA rating?

Brewer: “Yes, GISD has thoroughly examined the weaknesses both in the curriculum and instruction to take the necessary steps that should improve our scores,” Brewer said. “The GISD staff in a few short months turned the ‘unacceptable’ rating to ‘acceptable’ by unselfishly dedicating themselves to the task.

“Of course, many people don’t know that the year Gainesville was rated ‘unacceptable,’ most districts throughout the state dropped their rating also as a result of the state significantly raising the minimum standard. Our goal is to reach ‘exemplary’ as soon as possible.”

Lizalde: “Yes, our GISD students need for the schools to put them in an academic level that will make GISD an exemplary school district and at the same time make them successful in college if they choose to further their education,” Lizalde said.

Mims: No response by press time.

Root: “I think the current administration has done an excellent job in implementation of strategy to improve the TAKS scores at Gainesville High School,” Root said. “I feel they should continue to build upon this foundation and move toward ‘Exemplary’ status.”

Moore: “Yes, I am in full support of the districts plan to insure academic success,” Moore said.

Where do you stand on dress codes?

Lizalde: “Dress codes have a purpose, there is a time and a place for everything, and if the purpose of the dress code is to teach them professionalism then I’m for it,” he said. “We just need to be fair across the board and we need support from all the staff.”

Brewer: “GISD has implemented a standardized dress code to increase the focus on education,” Brewer noted. “Now students will have a feeling of equality and know what they can wear. Other districts have seen improvement in attitudes and increase in pride which instills self confidence to learn.

“With previous dress codes, too much time was spent to ‘police’ what students wore instead of using that time for education. Through my research, most parents approve standardized dress because the clothes cost less and eliminates having to choose what the students wear for the day. School administrators show remarkable improvements in scores and attendance while seeing reductions in suspensions, school crime, fighting, and vandalism. Resistance to change is normal but the benefits will hopefully far outweigh any negativity.”

Mims: No response by press time.

Moore: “I support a dress code that promotes student success, clearer direction on acceptable dress and a cost savings to parents,” Moore said. “I have noticed since I have been on the school board that our teachers and administrators spend an enormous amount of time dealing with dress code issues. Previous dress codes were too subjective and hard to enforce. The attention to the enforcement has diverted time from classroom instruction and therefore impacts the learning environment.”

Root: “The standardized dress code is a bold step forward and I support it,” Root said.

Voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Gainesville Civic Center.

Reporter Andy Hogue may be contacted at andyhoguegdr@ntin.net