Election 2020: Q&A with Harris County School Board District 6 candidates
To help voters decide which local candidates to support in the June 9 election, the Ledger-Enquirer is publishing a series of stories about contested races in a Q&A format.
Today, we feature the District 6 seat on the Harris County School Board. The five-term incumbent is Steven Goodnoe. The challenger is Frank Parmer.
Parmer, 32, is a business systems specialist for TSYS.
Asked to list his experience, Parmer said, “In working at TSYS, I have a strong value of diversity and learned how to leverage technology for process improvement while honing my analytic skills. I also work with large technology budgets, managing application development for digital innovation at TSYS. Working with emerging technology encourages questioning the historical process for more efficient solutions.”
He graduated from Harris County High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Columbus State University.
Goodnoe, 66, is location manager for MRS Homecare LaGrange. In addition to previously chairing the school board, his past leadership positions in the community include chairman of the Harris County Bond Committee, president of the Shiloh/Pine Mountain Valley Youth Sports Association, coach, member of Harris County Recreation Board and head soccer referee.
He graduated from Highlands High School in Sacramento, Calif., and earned an associate’s degree in health science from CSU.
The candidates answered the following questions via email:
Why should residents in your district vote for you over your opponent?
Parmer: “I will bring a fresh perspective to the school board. A fresh look offers the ability to challenge why things are done the way they are. I can search for ways to improve programs. I know and understand how parents are experiencing the decisions made by the school board.
“Through my education and working at TSYS, I bring an extensive knowledge of advanced technology and how it’s going to continue to change. This is why I believe we need a stronger focus on technology in our district. My technological experience provides an advantage for progressing our digital focus and my personal involvement by having a child in the school system allows me to have a direct understanding of what challenges may be seen by parents.”
Goodnoe: “I believe my past experience and service to the citizens and children of Harris County, along with my proven track record, shows my dedication to all of Harris County. I feel this qualifies me to be re-elected to the District Six representative seat.”
What is the most important issue in HCSD, and how should it be addressed during the 2020-21 school year?
Parmer: “Advancement of technology. We have great programs in our schools, but we need to make sure to continue striving for excellence. There are challenges with sparse broadband throughout parts of Harris County, but we shouldn’t wait for solutions to that problem to drive towards more digital engagement of our children.
“There have been moves to expand wi-fi outside of schools and to the use of the mobile learning center. I think we can recruit businesses and churches throughout the county to assist in allowing hotspot usage to expand internet connectivity. I also want to continue driving STEAM accreditation for all of our schools.”
Goodnoe: “I believe the most important issue for the 2020-2021 school year is twofold. 1) Seeing how the state budget shortfall will impact our budget. 2) The process of opening all of our facilities in a safe and timely manner. We are currently gathering and reviewing information from the local, state and federal levels to assess what process will be best for the Harris County School District.”
What is the most significant strength and the most significant weakness in HCSD that has been highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic, and what will be their impact when schools reopen?
Parmer: “Since I have a child in the system, I was able to see firsthand both the strengths and the weaknesses of the pandemic response.
“I believe our most significant strength was how quickly we went from being an in-school classroom to a digital one. ... I think our teachers handled this transition exceptionally well.
“Our weakness would be the communication during the initial announcement of the pandemic. We had issues with getting the correct information out quickly and parents were frustrated.
“The impact of this pandemic is hard to predict. We have to question how we handled things in the past like the flu. A child gets sick, they miss a few days of school. With COVID-19, anyone in the school showing signs could be infectious for 10 days. We cannot allow a kid to be out of school for 10 days. Sending worksheets home for them isn’t offering enough to our students. Offering a stronger digital engagement of students opens up a whole new means for educating our students.”
Goodnoe: “The most significant strength of the Harris County School District is definitely the employees of our system. Their dedication to serving all of our students, regardless of their role without any hindrance, speaks highly of them.
“With the emergence of COVID-19, I believe that a thorough review of all of our facilities, infectious control and disease policy and procedures will need to be reviewed. I feel that it has raised an awareness of how we will need to look at and handle students and staff that may be symptomatic with regard to any illness, along with maintaining a day-to-day hygiene process in all of our facilities to maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone in our school district.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
