Richard Cronshey – Trustee, District 3 Candidate

What motivated you to run for a seat on the school board this year?

I am a lifelong educator who worked as a classroom Science and Math teacher for over 36 years in various districts in Central Texas including Travis, Caldwell, Bastrop and Hays Counties. I was a tireless advocate for teachers including serving as various Officers In the local TSTA chapters in the districts in which I worked. When I was a Union Leader I became involved in the most important actions of the board of Trustees, the budget process and on committees for hiring administrators and superintendents. My passion for Education and the growth and development of students, combined with my commitment for Educators makes me uniquely qualified or serve as a Trustee for Hays CISD.

What particular skills or experience qualify you to serve as a school board member?

From my 36 years of teaching, being a scout leader, a union organizer, founding father of the City of Niederwald and many other organizations I have been involved in, I am a true consensus builder. I have built various coalitions of people from drastically different backgrounds and beliefs. As a teacher I have learned to listen to and empathize with people from various backgrounds. My knowledge of School Districts, Boards of Trustees, and many educational programs, makes me uniquely qualified to serve. My leaning curve for an elected official into a new position will be shorter than for others who are not intimately involved in education. A life long educator is a great fit for a school trustee

What are the greatest challenges for Hays CISD?

Managing exponential growth while at the same time ensuring equity for ALL schools within the districts is Hays CISD’s greatest challenge. Hays is growing by approximately 1,000 students every year. Many new schools will need to be built throughout the district.

What are your ideas to improve the future of Hays CISD? How would they help our students?

Technology, state-of-the-art facilities, and quality programs are import for student success. HOWEVER, the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of student success is to have a well-qualified, highly trained, happy, healthy and well-compensated TEACHER. Teachers make the biggest difference in students success.. When a district invests in the best teachers and frees them to use their skills, student success skyrockets.

If elected, how will you work to address disparities in our communities and areas that the district serves?

Hays has a great disparity of wealth amongst the various communities within its boundaries. Much of the Title I money goes to Elementary schools. Schools with historical low test scores need the best teachers. Many solutions can be enacted including extra pay or stipends for teachers in struggling schools as well as lower classroom size for those struggling schools.

What will be your budgetary priorities as a school board member?

Since approximately 75% of the budget is earmarked for employee pay, it is difficult for budgets to allocate much more money for services needed. Investing in quality teachers is paramount to ensure success. Making sure all students have access to high-speed broadband is also crucial.

COVID-19 vaccines for children under 12 years old may not be available until 2022. In light of that, do you support required mask usage by students and staff during the next school year for grade levels in which students are not able to be vaccinated?

Let us first follow CDC guidelines for mask wearing. ALSO, the district should be leading the way for ALL students to receive a vaccination. I would not be opposed to mask wearing until vaccinations are available to students.

Any other comments:

Public education is the GREAT EQUALIZER ! Good public schools take students from wealthier and more economically struggling communities and gives ALL of those students a level laying field.

Thank you for your consideration of my candidacy. Although a trustee election is non-partisan, the views and beliefs of those trustees are important. When school districts in general have more educators serving on the board, they perform better. Business sense and financial responsibility are important. but when professional educators are in these elected positions their division-making will reflect the need of the students more effectively.

IT’S TIME TO ELECT A TEACHER