My Vision for Frisco
ISD
I feel that our
schools will be up against some very tough challenges in
the coming years and I look forward to applying my past
leadership and service experiences to help build a strong
future for Frisco ISD and our children.
If elected to the Frisco School Board, I would focus on the
following items:
I will
work to increase the tax base for Frisco ISD by partnering
with public and private investment sources while minimizing
property tax rates.
An outstanding example of this public-private financing
partnership is the expansion of the Stars Center to 7000
seats that is currently being built through the Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) zone. Had the school district
taken on construction of such a facility on their own
(which is needed to house graduation ceremonies and other
large events for FISD high schools), the facility would
have cost almost $50 million to build. Through leveraging
the resources of both a private partner and the City of
Frisco, the school district’s investment was reduced to $16
million, which FISD will most certainly recoup as the value
of the facility and other related improvements increases
the overall taxable value of the property within the TIF
and the Frisco ISD tax base overall.
An excellent opportunity to expand on this type of
financing partnership exists in Frisco’s Historic Downtown.
In November 2007, the City of Frisco put in place a tax
incentive program that rewards owners of historically
significant homes who both live in these homes and invest
their own resources in the restoration and preservation of
these homes. The increased property valuations of homes
across the entire Historic Downtown area directly
translates to increased revenues for the Frisco ISD.
Further investment can be made in the Historic Downtown
area by public and private entities that would bring new
businesses, new development and new ISD revenues. It is
this type of targeted investment in Frisco that is needed
and that will accrue significant benefit to the ISD while
at the same time preserving the valuable history of the
people of this city, many of whom were raised or lived in
this now-historic area and grew up to have Frisco schools
named after them: Benton Staley, Isabel Sem, J.W. Christie,
Izetta Sparks, Dr. Erwin Pink, Wilma Fisher and many, many
others.
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I will
lead the development of new programs that allow students to
pursue more advanced studies (including college-level
credit for college-level classwork) and credit for outside
sports/athletic activities.
The children of our increasingly educated and cultured
citizenry are involved in many extracurricular activities,
including sports, dance, and other athletic and physical
activity. Many of these children invest anywhere from 8 to
20 hours a week or more training for their sport or
athletic activity outside of their normal school day.
At least one surrounding school district allows students
to earn physical education credits when they are involved
in a high level of athletic activity outside of school
hours. While this does not necessarily reduce the number of
hours they would spend in school, earning physical
education credit for extracurricular activities in which
they are already involved could open up extra elective
opportunities to pursue college-level classes, additional
academic subjects that they otherwise would not have time
for, or provide them opportunities to get ahead on their
current school workload. For example, instead of taking PE,
a child who is very involved in select soccer might choose
an extra elective to explore a class of interest. For high
school students, this might be an opportunity to earn early
college credits through college-level classwork.
In most cases, school districts use outside contractors to
monitor the implementation of a program like this. This
contractor would be responsible for approving the off
campus substitute activity (assuring that it meets strict
district requirements) as well as following up with the
coach or other staff on attendance and performance. The
parents of the children using the off-campus PE option
would cover this contractor’s costs through fees.
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I will
strive to provide increased depth in our teacher base and a
build a strong retention program to help keep them at
Frisco ISD.
Our teachers and administrators are the heart and soul of
Frisco ISD. Their success in the classroom not only
directly relates to our state accountability scores, but
ultimately (and most importantly) relates to the
educational success of our children. Last year Frisco ISD
hired over 500 new teachers to support our new schools. In
many ways, we are blessed because many school districts
around us struggle to fill even a third of that number of
positions. However, many challenges remain in our teacher
recruitment in this district. On average Frisco ISD
teachers have less than 8 years of teaching experience
(compared with 10 plus years in surrounding districts. Only
20% of our teachers have advanced degrees (compared with
50% in Plano ISD). While our young teachers are very
important to the success and future of Frisco ISD, we must
also work to assure that those young teachers are balanced
with mentors and partners in the classroom who have years
of teaching experience. Experienced teachers who have
worked in other districts and settings also bring ideas and
experiences that might resolve a child’s learning
difficulty or behavior issue. Frisco ISD needs the right
mix of new and experienced teachers as well as those who
have furthered their education with advanced degrees.
Frisco ISD also needs to build a strong retention program
that will motivate teachers to stay in Frisco ISD once they
are hired. In addition to supporting young parents through
the Frisco ISD childcare center and all staff with strong
retirement savings programs, Frisco ISD has opportunities
to help encourage all staff and their families to both live
and work in Frisco through the City of Frisco Down Payment
Assistance Program, which provides specialized loans to
assist with down payment and closing costs. An expanded
Down Payment Program for Frisco teachers and staff both
encourages new recruits to work in our school district and
promotes longevity in the FISD. Additional benefits to FISD
teachers and staff that need investigation include wellness
programs through the Frisco Athletic Center.