DCCCD Board of Trustees Election
Candidates ~ Candidates Survey Form ~ Candidate Responses to Survey ~ Early Voting ~ More Information
Candidates
District #1
Darrell Castillo
Alton (Skip) Kolpien
Chris Luna
Sonny Williams
District #7
Charletta Rogers Compton--unopposed.
Survey Form
Below is the survey form sent to each candidate:
Dallas Community College Faculty Association
Political Information Committee
Board of Trustees Candidate Survey, 2006
Name_________________________________
Contact Information for Supporters:
Address_______________________________
Phone________________________________
Email_________________________________
We would appreciate your response to the following questions. This information will be posted on the Faculty Association web site exactly as it is submitted with no comment or recommendations from the Council. This is an effort to provide candidate information for DCCCD faculty before the upcoming election. We appreciate your willingness serve the citizens of Dallas County and your assistance in providing this information.
If you would respond via email it will help us with the posting to the website. Please return your response to fnewbury@dcccd.edu as soon as possible. Please limit your response to no more than 100 words per question.
- Why did you decide to run for the DCCCD Board?
- What are the most pressing issues facing the DCCCD in the next several years and how do you see the Board addressing these concerns?
- What are the main assets of the DCCCD…how could those assets be promoted more effectively in our communities?
- What do you see as the role of a trustee in the DCCCD and how will you contribute to that role?
- What are your perceptions about the role of faculty in the DCCCD, i.e., involvement in governance and shared decision-making, academic freedom, or any other academic issues?
Thank You.
Fred Newbury, President
Dallas Community College Faculty Association
Responses
Darrell Castillo ~ Alton (Skip) Kolpien ~ Chris Luna ~ Sonny Williams
My candidacy for the DCCCD Board is a continuation of my efforts to bring the FISA, Section 215, USA PATRIOT Act and its contradiction to the 1974 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act to the attention of educators and public office-holders. I was a charter member of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee in 2004. I have addressed the Garland City Council and spoken twice before the Dallas County Commissioners Court. I am the only candidate that has ever said in public forum that he intends to represent the students.
The most pressing issue before the DCCCD Board is the loss of qualified adjunct professors because they see little chance under present District policy to advance within their ranks to full professorship. As trustee, I will propose a thirty year limit on staff service for all employees within the District. At the completion of their thirty years of service, these personnel would be offered a retirement package commensurate with their last active position.
The main assets of the DCCCD are the independent school districts represented within Dallas County. Texas ranks last in the percentage of high school graduates that go on to college. This can change through the active promotion of the dual-credit programs offered by the District. I am the only candidate who is a Richland College graduate (2005) and the only candidate that has spoken before the DISD, GISD and the RISD Boards during this campaign.
The role of a governing board trustee should be to help provide the educational and financial direction for the District by providing leadership for the Chancellor and his supporting staff. As trustee, I will recommend that the DCCC Foundation return any Department of Homeland Security money. There is no price on student privacy. An active trustee should also work with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for an increase in the level of transferable credits from the Junior college level.
According to the Chancellor of the DCCCD at the January, 2006, Board meeting, there has not been an opinion survey for staff in the last ten years. Any perceptions by faculty as to their role with administration as to academic freedom or other issues should be addressed by taking an immediate survey. I am a published playwright and twice District winner of the Literary Innovation contest offered by Richland College. The business of teaching is words in progress and a writer of Board residence would provide a powerful asset for the District.
1. Why did you decide to run for the DCCCD Board?
I believe that education is the great equalizer. My parents were the first in their respective families to graduate from high school and the first to graduate from college. Increasingly, education, workforce skills, and training are critical to obtaining, keeping and advancing in a good job. While on the city council I worked with the DCCCD on economic development projects and workforce training. I was also an adjunct instructor at Richland College and El Centro College. I know first hand the integral role that the DCCCD plays in this community and the positive impact that it has in our educational process.
2. What are the most pressing issues facing the DCCCD board in the next several years?
The district should conduct and adopt a comprehensive long range plan. The current three year plan does not appear to address the “Closing the Gaps” report or the projections on the changing demographics over the next 30 years in Texas’ public community colleges. In addition, any comprehensive long range plan needs to address the changes in science and technology. I would partner with my fellow trustees, the administration, community organizations, residents, faculty, staff, students, foundations, and businesses to initiate a from the “ground up” process for the development of this long range plan, similar to how we did the Dallas Plan.
3. What are the main assets of the DCCCD? How could those assets be promoted more effectively in our communities?
The DCCCD’s main assets are its people, its programs, and its facilities. I have addressed (and given examples) of how all of these assets can be better promoted at my web site. Please go to www.chrisluna.com/issues.htm to read more about my thoughts on these issues. Some examples include: conducting a compensation and job classification study, ways to keep tuition low, increased marketing of training programs, and better reporting and communication on the 2004 bond program.
4. What do you see as the role of a trustee in the DCCCD?
I see the role as two-fold. First, the board is the policy maker for the district. This includes items such as the policies, procedures, planning, and budget. The board should not micro-manage the professional staff. Second, a trustee should be a community ambassador for the district. I would hold town hall meetings, speak to community organizations, and write columns for the community newspapers, as I did when I was on the city council, to help spread the word about the district.
5. What are your perceptions about the role of the faculty in the DCCCD?
The faculty, as one of the key stakeholders in the DCCCD, should participate and have a strong role in the academic issues and major policy decisions facing the district. I have experience successfully working with employee associations from my tenure on the city council. I view the faculty, along with other key constituent groups, as a partner in this collaborative process.
I want to put back into our community my time and efforts. My business experience, 48 years with Minyard Food Stores Inc., and 16 years serving on Dallas Baptist University Board of Trustees will enable me to bring new ideas to the table.
A. Increasing student population at all seven colleges.
B. Trustees to work together more harmoniously.
Both can be accomplished by the chairman of Trustees appointing a committee to study both issues and bring back to the full board recommendations then implement after the seven trustees agree.
The main assets are
A. Affordable tuition
B. High caliber Professors
A marketing plan to get the word out to all of DFW metroplex that DCCCD has quality and qualified instructors and a real value for student tuition.
The role of a trustee of DCCCD is to be a good listener, do your homework on every issue, and push for adoption of recommendations that will make DCCCD the destination point for any student pursuing more education. I will contribute by being a strong leader and facing the hard issues with fairness and honesty and stand up for students and faculty.
My first impression and perception after visiting all seven campuses and presidents is that each of the seven is in good hands. I feel the President of each college should allow faculty to make decisions on their own, as long as it is in line with the systems goals and initatives. The seven colleges executive staff have so many ideas, but do not seem to be communicating to the other schools in the DCCCD system. A formal time set aside quarterly for Presidents to engage in a “SHARETIME” would be beneficial and bring everyone closer together.
EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS
May 1 thru May 9
May 1--May 6-- 8:00a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
May 8, 9-- 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Sunday (May 7)--1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
The Bradford at Lincoln Park (Replaces Highland Baptist Church)
Lincoln Park Dr 8221 N Central Expwy Dallas 75225
Dallas First Assembly of God
11000 E. Northwest Hwy Dallas 75238
Dallas ISD Admin Bldg
3700 Ross Avenue Dallas 75204
Fretz Park Recreation Center
6950 Belt Line Road Dallas 75254
Harry Stone Recreation Center
2403 Millmar Dr. Dallas 75228
Martin Luther King Jr Core Bldg.
2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Dallas 75215
Northway Baptist Church
3877 Walnut Hill Lane Dallas 75229
Richardson Civic Center
411 W. Arapaho Rd. Richardson 75080
Oak Cliff Sub-Courthouse
410 S. Beckley Ave. Dallas 75203
Records Building
509 Main Street Dallas 75202
Addison Fire Station
4798 Airport Pkwy Addison 75001
Balch Springs City Hall
3117 Hickory Tree Rd Balch Springs 75180
Barbara Bush Middle School
515 Cowboys Pkwy Irving 75063
Carrollton/ Farmers Br ISD Admin
1445 North Perry Road Carrollton 75006
Cedar Hill ISD Admin Bldg
270 South Highway 67 Cedar Hill 75104
Cockrell Hill City Hall
4125 W Clarendon Dr Dallas 75211
Coppell Town Center
255 Parkway Blvd Coppell 75019
Dallas County Municipal Utility District #6
13503 Alexander Rd Balch Springs 75180
DeSoto Town Center Library
211 E. Pleasant Run Rd. DeSoto 75115
Duncanville Library
201 James Collins Blvd. Duncanville 75116
Farmers Branch City Hall
13000 William Dodson Pkwy Farmers Branch 75234
Garner Elementary School
145 Polo Road Grand Prairie 75052
Glenn Heights City Hall
1938 South Hampton Rd Glenn Heights 75154
Grand Prairie Development Center
206 W. Church St. Grand Prairie 75050
Hutchins City Hall
321 North Main Street Hutchins 75141
Irving Arts Center
3333 North MacArthur Blvd Irving 75062
Irving City Hall
825 W. Irving Blvd Irving 75060
Josey Ranch Library
1700 Keller Springs Rd. Carrollton 75006
Lancaster ISD Admin Bldg
422 South Centre Ave Lancaster 75146
Lancaster Recreation Center
1700 Veterans Memorial Pkwy Lancaster 75134
Rowlett City Hall Annex
4004 Main Street Rowlett 75088
Sachse City Hall
5560 Highway 78 Sachse 75048
Sandy Jacobs Gov't Center
1029 West Rosemeade Pkwy Carrollton 75007
Seagoville City Hall
702 North Highway 175 Seagoville 75159
Sunnyvale Town Hall
127 Collins Road Sunnyvale 75182
More Information
- DCCCD Election Information
- Dallas County Elections
- sample ballots, district maps, voting precincts, early voting information
- Dallas County Elections: Who Are My Representatives? (search by your name)
- Dallas Morning News (note: off-campus access is via your name and faculty ID number)
- Four on the Ballot for May Board Election (Richland Chronicle)
Last Updated: May 2, 2006
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