Dr. Kris's Plan is S.A.F.E.R.

We have no more valuable resource than our children, and someday we will live in the world they create.  In an age of school closings, campus violence, sex trafficking, internet predators, cyberbullying, and civil conflict, school leaders must be prepared to take the steps necessary to protect our kids from a wide array of threats.  Parents trust us to keep their children secure, and we cannot fail in that regard.

Pearland ISD is consistently one of the highest rated in the state of Texas for academic achievement.  This achievement spans across demographics and socioeconomic disadvantages.  Even though we have a strong history of excellence, we can still improve.  Dr. Kris believes the best way to take care of the students is to make sure that we take care of our educators.  Most of them are passionate about helping kids to succeed, and we need to make sure that we give them the tools they need to do so.

The Pearland School Board has the power to tax your property as well as your business, so it is incumbent on the School Board to be a good steward of the money it receives.  Every dollar of funding that comes in from federal, state, and private sources is a dollar that does not have to come from Pearland taxpayers.  And while we should fight to be first in quality, we should also strive to return the best value to you, the citizens and businesses of Pearland.  As a property and business owner in Pearland, Dr. Kris understands the impact taxes have on Pearland people.

Pearland ISD has to engage people on multiple fronts:

• Students need stimulating, challenging curriculum that is appropriate for their unique gifts and abilities.  
• Parents must be recruited as active partners in the home, helping to drive students toward success while guiding the school district on student needs.
• Educators must be allocated the resources and training they need, and that can only be done through dialog and creative solutions.
• TEA needs to be made aware of the needs of Pearland students.  Communication from TEA should not be a one-way street, and Pearland should have a voice.

Public education is the great equalizer in American history and has contributed to countless success stories.  However, in today's hyper-partisan environment, it has become commonplace for polarizing forces to try to gain access to our children through schools.  Our district must continue to respect the primacy of parents as the main educators of children, not circumvent parents' wishes.  Children should likewise learn to respect each other, respect their educators, and respect the community that has given them the opportunities they enjoy.