LEON SLAPE
• incumbent
Biography: Wife: Lynda; specialist degree in educational administration; retired educator after 35 years; presently an associate pastor and church finance officer.
Why are you running for the Houston School Board?
• To provide assistance with the school administrators, teachers and other staff members.
• Help with district curriculum goals.
• Work with the school com munity and local citizens to help promote continued student improvement and successful programs for the Houston R-1 School District.
What do you consider to be the current strengths of the district?
• A diversified board of education that has multiple background knowledge and experiences to provide needed input of public education.
• Ability to look at an in-depth of issues, working together with the present administrators and community members.
• A staff of educators that care, have vision and want to see students succeed.
• A community that supports the school district.
• Curriculum offerings that provide needed opportunities for pursuit of furthered education.
• An administration that works together to see improved student performance.
What are the areas in most need of improvement? How do you suggest those improvements?
• Improvement of student performance by encouraging students, teachers, parents and community members to support with maximum effort.
• Much needed present building improvements.
• Our community citizens need to approve a “no tax increase” for a facility improvement bond issue.
Houston’s test scores have been at the bottom of the conference for the past couple years. How can they be improved and what is the school board’s role in doing so?
• Parents actively encourage, assist and hold accountable for their children with high achievement.
• Teachers freed from so much (government mandated) data collection and allow teachers to teach students.
• Board members help and support our educational leaders as they work together for measurable results.
The district is building its bonding capacity. Would you support another bond issue and if so, for what specific needs?
• Yes, I am totally supportive for a “no increase tax” bond issue to seek approval by the voters in 2019.
Some Specific Needs:
• An updated bell, intercom and communication system to reach all people in all buildings for adequate student and personnel safety.
• Replacing aging HVAC systems.
• Improved interior lighting.
• Improvement to our track and outdoor restroom facilities.
• A new multipurpose gym/auditorium for improved needed facilities, including:
1. Fine arts
2. Adequate indoor seating for graduation and community events.
3. Space and seating for regional extracurricular competitions.
4. Local pride
Do you support the addition of a school resource officer on campus? What other safety needs do you believe the district should implement?
• Yes, I am in favor for an SRO (Security resource officer) present on campus during school hours and as needed at possible extracurricular events.
• Also, as a part of the bond issue is needed to design the new facility to connect the middle school, high school and gymnasium for access to these buildings via indoor corridors.
• Continued correspondence and working together with local law enforcement.
What do you believe is the purpose of a school board member?
• To provide a liaison between the community and the superintendent to help determine, monitor and strengthen school’s programs and services.
• Work together with administrators and teachers to improve student success and enhance our school’s public standing.
• Assure effective organizational and management of resources.
• Support the superintendent and assess his performance.
• Ensure legal and ethical integrity; maintaining accountability.
• Understand that the day-to-day operations of the district are conducted by the staff.