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By MEGAN MIDDLETON
Staff Writer

Candidates running for the open seat on the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees were quizzed during a candidate forum Monday about issues ranging from the possible need for a third high school to merit-based pay for teachers.

The forum was sponsored by the League Women Voters-Tyler/Smith County.

Those in the running for the District 4 position on the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees include Dale Blackstone, Shirley Jordan, Tanya Roberson-Redic and Cody Savell.

John D. Johnson III filed for the position but has since decided to pull out of the race. His name, however, will still appear on the ballot for the May 10 election.

Candidates had three minutes to introduce themselves and were then questioned by a group of media panelists as well as audience members.

TISD candidates were asked by media panelists about whether they envisioned a third high school in Tyler.

Ms. Jordan said she could see there might be a need for one as well as new middle school.

"Our high schools are so large right now that it would be a definite benefit as our community grows," Ms. Jordan said.

Savell said he is "not real sure that we're at the point of addressing that yet." He said that the district may need to look at redrawing district lines.

Blackstone said he did not believe TISD needs another high school but perhaps needs to look at redrawing boundary lines or grouping freshmen and sophomores together at one school and juniors and seniors at another.

Ms. Redic said a new high school would be something the district should look at in the future as Tyler continues to grow.

Candidates were questioned about what the school board can do to ensure a successful bond election for TISD if the district calls one later this year.

Ms. Redic said it will be important to listen to the citizens. Blackstone also said the "key is communication ... and let the people tell us what they want." He said people will vote for it "if they see the need is there."

Savell also agreed communication is key, noting that all citizens need to do is to go on the campuses and "see some of the conditions that our students are calling a school room."

Ms. Jordan praised the new Douglas Elementary, built in the first phase of the bond program, citing its safety and the attitudes of the children who attend. She also said they should let people know what's happening in TISD.

Trustee candidates were asked about whether they knew the stated goals of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at John Tyler High School, which is being proposed for elimination.

None could say what the stated goals were for the program.

TISD candidates were also questioned about ways to tackle dropouts.

Savell pointed to finding ways to keep every student involved in school. Ms. Redic said the demographics of students dropping out would need to be looked at. Blackstone said the answer could be with members of the community stepping forward to help, and Ms. Jordan pointed to the AVID program and getting the parents more involved.

Candidates were also asked what they believe might be broken in TISD.

Most cited the practice of "teaching to the test." Ms. Redic said an issue needing to be addressed is those students not passing the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test.

When asked about merit-based pay for teachers, Blackstone, Savell and Ms. Jordan did not seem to fully support it, but Ms. Redic said, "if the teachers and students are excelling ... and schools are recognized or exemplary, I think the staff should be compensated for that."

Ms. Jordan said she did not know if merit-based pay was the answer.

Savell said the ways of judging a teacher are "too subjective" and Blackstone said that he did not know that merit-based pay would raise the morale of teachers.

"It's hard to evaluate someone with such changing conditions," he said.

Candidates began the forum by talking about themselves and why they decided to run.

Blackstone, 57, owns Blackstone Landscaping in Tyler. He has been in Tyler since 1972. He has three children and four grandchildren who have all attended TISD schools.

He said he has owned his own business for 32 years and knows how to work with people. He also noted that his family is "full of teachers."

Blackstone and his wife have taught at their church for more than 25 years and his daughter-in-law teaches at TISD. Blackstone has also taught a course at Tyler Junior College, served as a PTA president and helped in a work-study program in Lindale schools.

"We're very interested in children and we'd like to bring some of that to the TISD school board," Blackstone said.

Ms. Jordan, 61, is a retired nurse who now is an AVON representative. She is a mother and grandmother of children who have attended TISD at some point.

"I have a great love for children. It's just something that has touched my heart that I want to be involved in more with what is going on in our school district," she said.

Ms. Jordan said she wants to get people more involved in TISD. She said that until she filed for the office she had not attended any school board meetings.

"I want to see people come to the school board meetings and know what's going on in our school district," she said.

Ms. Redic, 34, is a managing broker for Harold Carter Realtors in Tyler. Her children attend Caldwell Elementary School.

She is on the Smith County Appraisal Review Board, is a volunteer with the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of Leadership Tyler Class 20.

"My main reason for running for TISD school board is because I have two children in the district and I consider myself a stakeholder," Ms. Redic said. "I want to see the district continue to move in the right direction.

"I feel my education and my professional background makes me the best candidate for the position."

Savell, 47, is in pharmaceutical sales. He has been in Tyler for 15 years and both of his children have attended school in TISD. His oldest daughter graduated last year and his youngest is a freshman at Robert E. Lee High School.

He and his wife are involved in Green Acres Baptist Church and he said he has "good relationships all the way through the district."

Savell also noted his five years of experience as a math teacher and coach in Dallas ISD and other districts.

"One of my biggest pushes as a TISD board member is going to be towards educating students for life and for college not just teaching to a standardized test," he said.