Larry Stipes - Irving ISD Board of Trustees Place 3
1. What are your qualifications and experience that will make you an effective member of the School Board?
I am a 57 year resident with a lengthy history of service to both our schools and our community. I have served in leadership roles in PTA, Booster Clubs, Parks Board 11 years (4 as Chair), Bond Task Force (Chair of Parks & Open Space Comm.), IBBA Pres. 4 years (8 yrs.
as Director). My history of service and leadership provides me with the necessary tools to be an effective and responsible board member.
2. What policies will you initiate and support to decrease the dropout rates in your school district?
Expand vocational programs. These programs are a necessary tool to motivate not only those students planning to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation, but those who might become a statistic if only offered mainstream curriculum. Also continue to improve and develop new initiatives to reach non-English speaking students at the earliest possible age to ensure they are adequately prepared for secondary school.
3. What priorities in spending will you support in light of the reduced funding experienced by all Texas school districts?
Any programs, whether academic, athletic, arts, etc. which keep students engaged and active in the education process, should be untouchable. A budget of 240 million dollars provides ample opportunity for review without affecting students and teachers.
4. What initiatives will you support to ensure that teacher morale and working conditions are good?
We cannot continue to tolerate unacceptable classroom behavior. Students must be made aware that their choices, not only now, but throughout their lives, bear consequences. The Board should implement firm, but fair and equitable, standards for classroom decorum that fully support the classroom teacher and administration in achieving a safe and desirable environment.
5. What initiatives will you support to meet the needs of many students for vocational training?
Please see response in question 2.
6. What do you see as the top two pressing issues for your School District and what are your solutions or recommendations?
Teacher morale. Several factors may be attributed to the low morale of classroom teachers; lack of support on discipline issues, grading policies, curriculums which are difficult to implement. Effective discipline policy should be given high priority. We must explore English
immersion as an optioned offered to non-English speaking students. Must ensure our students become proficient in the English language, as early as possible, if they are to reach their potential.
