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A 1987 graduate of Lewisville High School, I grew up in the Lewisville Independent School District. As a parent of two sons, who also graduated from Lewisville High School, I have been an involved partner in my children’s’ education, participating in PTAs, booster clubs, community athletic organizations and countless volunteer activities. I have a vested interest in LISD.
After spending over a year attending LISD Board Meetings and conducting research on my own, I have decided it is time to become involved in finding solutions to the many issues facing LISD. These are challenging times as the district faces an $18 million dollar deficit. I believe there are better ways to solve this issue than pushing yet another tax increase on the tax payers. Overspending by past Boards and onerous state mandates make it difficult to manage our growing district. While we can scrub the district budget, get creative with how we handle our finances and find other solutions to this challenge, I believe we should be careful when reducing spending to avoid those budgeted items which have a direct impact on the classroom, teachers, and supplies. Recognizing that LISD will continue to grow for several more years, it is important that we seek opportunities to procure land where the growth is most likely to happen. Building schools and creating attendance zones within neighborhoods is important to foster the important relationships formed between educators, students and parents in these neighborhoods.
It will be a priority of mine to encourage our best teachers to stay and to provide incentives for other teachers to reach their full potential. The district could not boast about our Recognized District status without the extra efforts of dedicated teachers. In addition to making sure there are incentives to encourage our teachers to be the best, I am also a firm believer in promotion from within. When we have an outstanding teacher who, in addition to teaching our children, takes on the financial and personal sacrifice to further their education, we should look to them first when advanced positions become available.
Student success is important to all of us as the students of today are the leaders of tomorrow. I believe all LISD students should be well prepared for secondary education upon graduation. There can be no assumption that any student group is at a disadvantage to pursue a college education. There are countless stories of individuals who came from dire circumstances to become successful both academically and professionally. We as a school district have an obligation to all students from all demographic and economic groups to give them the resources to succeed.
Searching for a Superintendent who will be able to lead the district through the tough times ahead and still focus on raising the bar, will be no easy task. Reducing the existing budget deficit will require creative problem solving skills. We’re told that growth in the district is inevitable. We must manage that growth and make decisions so that we protect neighborhood integrity while preserving precious taxpayer resources while continuing to provide an excellent education opportunity for all students in LISD. There is a lot of work ahead. I am excited and up to the challenge, largely in part to the heritage provided me through my years as a student in the LISD.
For more information please visit my website: www.latham4lisd.com
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