| A fresh start: Yes or no? Clark, Torres tout skills for Place 1 04/08/2001 By Toya Lynn Stewart / The Dallas Morning News The difference between the two candidates vying for the Place 1 spot on the Garland school board is experience.
The incumbent, school board President Dr. G. Randall Clark, has served on the board for 15 years. Challenger Tony Torres has never run for office.
Dr. Clark said he is seeking re-election to "continue to lend experience" to the board.
"My experience as far as what I've learned about school finance is important. I'm knowledgeable regarding the state finance package," Dr. Clark said. "My leadership has remained fresh during my time on the board."
His opponent has another view.
"There are no specific complaints. ... The primary reason I'm running against Dr. Clark is because I think it's time for a change," said Mr. Torres, who in the at-large election could also have chosen to run against two one-term incumbents. "I figure like any other position, things can get a little stagnant."
Not so, said Dr. Clark, who has one son who has graduated and a daughter who still attends school in Garland.
"You actually roll with the punches," said Dr. Clark, a retired dentist. "We have a dynamic district that is always changing. I believe there are term limits, [but] the voters determine the term limits."
Mr. Torres said "there are new issues and challenges on the horizon" that he believes he can address with fresh ideas.
Mr. Torres is a program administrator for the Internal Revenue Service. His son and daughter graduated from Garland schools.
Dr. Clark's interests include recruiting and retaining teachers. He said he hopes to expand the district's pool of educators to enable the district to hire and keep the best. He also wants to offer competitive salaries to retain educators.
Dr. Clark said school safety is also one of his top concerns.
He said the district needs to "provide [teachers] with a safe and secure environment in which to practice their love of instructing children."
Dr. Clark said he also wants to find new ways to assess students without relying solely on results from the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills.
Citing his own experience, Dr. Clark said the district "deserves qualified and experienced representation to deal with the complexities that come with a district of our size and diversity."
It's because of the district's growth and diversity that Mr. Torres said that having Hispanic representation on the board is essential.
"It will create a seamless transition," as minority students become the majority, Mr. Torres said.
He said he wants to find ways to ensure a balance of resources among the three cities – Garland, Rowlett and Sachse – that make up the district. Some of his concerns include quality indoor air, maintaining older schools and ensuring equity in resource allocations.
Both candidates vying for the three-year term agree that building stronger partnerships with the city and business community will improve the district.
They agree that the district needs to find more ways to involve parents.
Both men say that the trustees' role is to ensure quality education for all children, not just segments of the population.
They also agree that as the district continues to grow, trustees must find ways to maintain or build new facilities.
Both say that increasing the commercial tax base is crucial to helping ease homeowners' tax burdens.
The election will be held May 5. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Staff writer Toya Lynn Stewart can be reached at 972-272-6591 ext. 225 and at .
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