The Bastrop County Times (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 23, 1978 Page: 3 of 22
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iHl KSI> \^ . MARCH 23. H'M
THF BASTROP COUNTY I1MI S. SMIlHVIllI 11X AS ^v>S-
SEC. I. PAGE 3
School Board Candidates Speak To The Issues
BISD Candidates Respond
Place 3
I
Place 4
■Jenkins
Smith
Vinklarek
BASTROP
In the election for trustee to the
Bastrop Independent School Board,
incumbent Robert Jenkins is un-
opposed in his race for the Place 3
position.
' Seeking election to Place 4 are
two newcomers, Clarence Vinklarek
and Stanley Smith.
What is the most urgent need of
the Bastrop school system right now
and how would vou deal with it?
Place 3
good families that stimulate the
economic interests of the school
system.
Place 4
Vinklarek - 1 have four children
in the school system. My children's
communications from the school
system is one of my biggest links.
I know most of the school board
members and have attended their
meetings. 1 follow the newspaper
reports of their meetings.
Smith - You don't ever get fully
prepared. Life teaches you. You
make the decision to run and find
out on your own what you need to
do and prepare yourself. I have
done a tremendous amount of
preparation; but it is the things
that you've done in vour life that
you draw on. 1 know statistics and
finance. Facts and figures speak
for themselves.
Why should we vote for you instead
of your opponent?
Place 3
Jenkins - Because 1 have a sin-
cere concern for the people and
the children of the district.
Place 4
Vinklarek - First of all, I think
that I'm better qualified. And be-
cause of my employment — I've
been continuously employed and
for the last seven years 1 have
been in business for myself. I
started out with nothing and today
1 have 50 people employed. 1 have
to know how to handle not only
money but people.
Smith - There are several reas-
ons. 1. It's a fact that you should
judge a candidate by his ability to
deal with people. Our community
is ready for some changes to take
place both for the short term and
long term as well. The community
is aware that I'm running against
the school board's hand picked
candidate. 1 want to see a candidate
represent all the people. That's
the main issue of the campaign.
My intention is to represent every
Jenkins - That's obvious. We citizen equally, fairly, and without
need to get on the new junior high
school as soon as possible We just
got through with the pre - bid con
fere nee on the 15th. The bids will
be opened on March 21. Within
ten days we will probably accept a
bid provided thev are within our
. price range.
PJace 4
Vinklarek - At the present time should be conducted in the superin
oyr most urgent need is to get our tendent's office or at the school
junior high school building program hoard meetings?
.underway and finished; and pro- Place3
, ceed on future building programs.
, To deal with the building programs
you'll have to wait until funds
are available. I understand why
there was a delay in the
settlement of the insurance on the
junior high school.
Smith - I think that your most
urgent needs are a definite need for
long range and short range plan--
ning. Most of the planning has been
short ranged. It's finally caught up
with us. Wc have to look at both.
The second definite need is an
extra effort on behalf of the school
board to get the community in-
. yolved in all of the problems that
\ve have. The public needs to be
•better informed. We need better
communications with the school
■ board to improve the education and
educational facilities of our chil-
dren. These are the things that
v .we've got to do and you cannot do
it unless you change directions.
Do you think a background in bus-
iness and management is neces-
sary to sen'e on the school board?
.Place 3
r! Jenkins - It would help; but it is
not necessary.
-Place 4
Vinklarek - I definitely think that _
both are a necessity with the BISD 7\7/~i YY1 Pfj
because you're dealing with one of "*■ * **' ^
the largest employers in the BISD
so you need business people as
trustees. I feel that the president
of the board has been doing a darn
good job and I feel that his business
background is partially responsible.
I have 1.7 million dollars worth of
utility business tinder contract.
Smith -1 would not say it's an ab-
solute necessity: but it is definitely
a plus. You have to take into
. account that there are many people
, in the school district that aren't
, in business that would do a great
.job on the school board. We have
such a tremendous pool of talent
that is not being used. Running
a school system is different from
running a business. The ability
to work with people would outweigh
a business background.
How did you prepare yourself to
• run for the school board''
Place 3
• Jenkins • 1 have two children
People thai have children naturally
have a veiled interest. There a few
' people Mho don't have children, hut
' are sl H interested in the schools,
\iiu know thai go al wl«* l draw
6 Vie For Place 3
Place 1
Hicks
Gonzales Schroeder Carlson
favor. The board is there to listen
to people with the respect that they
deserve. I'm working for the im-
provement of the educational proc-
esses of the community. I don't
think that the school board should
be run like a private club.
Do you feel that school business
Jenkins - Day-to-day school bus-
iness should be conducted by the
superintendent. The school board
should take care of the board
meetings. The policy making should
come from the board.
Place 4
Vinklarek - Definitely; the school
board employs the superintendent.
There is certain business that the
superintendent needs to transact,
that should be clear enough. There
has to be a good working relation-
ship between the president and the
board and the superintendent.
Budgets are helpful here.
Smith - Definitely not. One of the
basic problems that we have be-
tween the school board and the pub-
lic is that opinion of the community
is that too often school decisions
are made in small closed rooms.
The school board is a public
forum and needs to be open to the
people and this cannot be done
properly in a small room.
Steering
Committee
BASTROP — Clarence Vinklarek
announced on Friday, March 17.
his Steering Committee for his
campaign for Place 4 of the BISD
board. They are: Warren Higgings.
a rancher and businessman who is a
lifelong resident of Bastrop; Leon
Goertz of Leon's Country Store in
Rockne; Otto Weilert. who lives on
Highway 71; Gerald Hanna who is
service manager of General Office
Equipment Co. in Austin; and
Willie Sampson. Jr., who lives at
Lake Bastrop Acres and works for
the LCRA.
Refectory Fight
... from Page 1.
and historically, and the fact thai,
thus far. Parks and Wildlife offic-
ials had been unresponsive lo ap-
peals to save (tie building
The mayor said (hat the meeting
would either be the 2#th or the
29th of March and would be at the
Parks and Wildlife Building at
ELGIN — Seven candidates
are running for election to the
Elgin Board of School Trustees this
year; two, Mr. Kay Hicks and Mrs.
Charlene Shoulders, are running
unopposed for re-election, and the
other five candidates arc running
against each other for Place 3.
These candidates arc: Eric Carlson.
Lupe V. Gonzales, Sonny Hibbs,
Roger Murphree, and J. P.
Schroeder. The following questions
were asked of the group:
What is the most urgent need of
the Elgin school system right now
and how would you deal with it?
Place I
Hicks - I feel that the biggest
problem we face is finance, because
of the ever changing price of goods
and services. It's extremely hard to
budget these things, even six
months ahead.
Place 2
Shoulders - Our biggest need is
for more parent involvement. As for
the school itself, we need to keep
upgrading the physical plant and
the curriculum.
Place 4
Carlson - It's important that the
school board be guardians of the
tax dollar; I also teel that an ad-
dition to the curriculum could be a
program of enrichment for the
gifted child. Our job is basically
to work for quality education for
all students.
Gonzales - Elgin is growing and
in a few years our schools are going
to be overcrowded. I think we
should have a long range plan now,
in order to prevent burdening the
taxpayers later.
Hibbs - The most urgent need as
I see it is to continue to improve
the buiding facilities at the schools.
Murphree - I think we need to
have a plan for growth and meth-
ods of financing a building pro-
gram. The community is growing
and we need to be prepared for it.
Schroeder - I think we need more
representation from the farming
and ranching area. There's been no
representation from our rural areas.
Do you believe a background in
business and management is neces-
sary to serve on the school board/
Place 1
Hicks - I don't feel that it is nec-
essary, but it would be beneficial
and a great help.
Place 2
Shoulders - There is a lot of deal-
ing with money on the school
board — I don't feel formal train-
ing is necessary, but a person needs
a lot of common sense.
Place 3
Carlson -1 think it possibly helps;
but the biggest single asset is an
understanding of an an apprecia-
tion for the value of education.
Gonzales - No. By working with
the youth of the community
(through programs like Little
League, for example) a person can
become familiar with the problems
and concerns of youth.
Hibbs - No I don't think so at all.
I think that a person has to be ac-
tive in the community, to be com-
munity-oriented. and to have a
prime concern for the needs of the
children.
Murphree - Experience gained
in the business community is a def-
inite plus. Some members of the
board need to have this type of
experience, not necessarily all.
Schroeder - Definitely. And you
need someone who has lived in
Elgin all their life.
How did you prepare yourself to
run for the school board?
Place I
Hicks I looked into the needs of
the communitv and the children
so that I could see where we were
headed and where we needed to go.
Place 2
Shoulders Well. 1 went to some
board meetings, some seminars,
and did a lot of reading. Hie main
thing is , you have to have an in-
terest in the kuls.
Place 3
Carlson' last year 1 chaired an
educational advisory board, and I
have been president of P.T.S.A.
and active in the schools in the
v arious places we have lived.
Gon/ales By hav ing worked w ith
the youth for the last 7 years,
as coach of I it tie League and
Pop Warner football.
Hibbs I keep up with the min-
utes of the school board. I've tried
to become acquainted with the
school facultv and students I've
discussed the issues with a wide
range of people.
Murphree - I've attended a lot of
board meetings, and talked to
principals and teachers, and visited
the schools. I've also had a lot of
experience in management
and budgeting.
Schroeder - First, I contacted
a wide group of people to see if I
Murphree
had their support before I even
seriously considered running.
Why should we vote for you instead
ofvouropponents?
Place I
Mr. Hicks is running unopposed.
Place 2
Mrs. Shoulders is running
unopposed.
Place 3
Carlson 1 have had wide exper-
ience with schools; my family has
traveled extensively, working with-
in my children's schools all the
time, and I feel my educational
background will help me to deal
with the problems of providing
quality education for our kids.
(ion/ales 1 have no comment as
to the qualifications of my oppon-
ents. 1 believe it is a privilege to
run for the school board. 1 think
if a parent feels he or she is qualif-
ied. by ail means he should run.
1 feel my opponents feel the same
way.
Hibbs - I feel I'm qualified on
the basis of my background and
experience and my desire to serve
the schools. I have no special in-
terest group—I'm interested in all
of the community.
Murphree - 1 feel 1 can work with
the other board members, that I
can persuade as well as comprom-
ise. 1 have a very strong desire to
serve the community.
Schroeder - I think 1 can repre-
sent the farming and ranching area;
also. I'd like to see our kids and
faculty get credit for what they're
doing.
Do vou teel school business should
be conductd in the school superin-
tendent 's office or in hoard meet-
ings?
Place I
Hicks - In the open board meet-
ings, except when talking about a
personnel problem.
Place 2
Shoulders - In the board meet-
ings.
Place 3
Gonzales - Business is business
regardless of w here it is discussed,
but I feel any problem can be solved
by open discussion between the
parties involved.
Hibbs I believe that the duties of
the school board are to see that
school policies are formed and the
things brought before the board are
issues they should deal with — not
discipline or personnel problems.
Carlson - I think you need both —
there are some things that need to
be worked on in the superinten-
dent's office, but I hasten to add,
any decision of the school board
should withstand the scrutiny of
the public.
Murphree - The only thing going
on in private should be personnel
problems—all other school business
is public and should be conducted
that way.
Schroeder - The school board has
their responsibilities, and the
superintendent has his. 1 think
school policies should be made by
the school board.
SISD Race Sharpens
Place 1
Smith
Tovar
SMITHVILLE
In view of the upcoming school
and city elections, the staff of the
Times recently put together a
series of questions which they
felt should be put to each of the
candidates for a response.
This week's questions were dir-
ected toward the school board can-
didates, Doug Smith and Phil
Tovar (Place 1), and James Briggs
and Mary Ella Wither (Place 2).
Next week's issue of the Times
will run the responses of the city
candidates.
What is the most urgent need of the
Sniithville. school system right now
and how would you deal with it?
Place 1
Smith - To make sure that our
students are receiving a good edu-
cation. I would do my part in hiring
a superintendent who would see
that this purpose is carried out.
Tovar - To make sure we main-
tain a high level of academic
standards. I would do my part in
filling this need by making sure
that we expand our curriculum and
that we hire and keep capable
teachers.
Place 2
Briggs - To hire a new superin-
tendent. I would contribute in any
way I could to see that this is done.
Wither - The hiring of a new man
for superintendent. I would contrib-
ute whatever input I have to see
that we hire the most qualified
person.
Do you think a background in busi-
ness and management is necessary
to serve on the school board?
Place I
Smith It helps but it isn't any
more valuable than an all around
educational background.
Tovar - It would help but the
main thing a person needs is com-
mon sense.
Place 2
Briggs Common sense is just
as important.
Wither - A person needs good
business sense but he also needs
to be well rounded.
How did you prepare yourself to run
for the school board?
Place 1
Smith - I looked at the situation
and studied it. I decided it was my
responsibility to contribute what I
could.
Tovar I have made it a policy
to study school functions and the
workings of the school system.
Place 2
Briggs - I prepared myself men-
tally. I decided (hat I either had to
gel more deeply involved in our
school system or forget about it
completely.
Wither - I read everything I
could find concerning our school
system. I determined that I could
serve a purpose if I were elected.
Why should we vote for you instead
ofyour opponent?
Place 1
Smith - I am better qualified. My
opponent has served on the school
Place 2
Wither
Briggs
board previously, but on (he basis
of his record little was accomp-
lished.
Tovar - I have the experience
because of having been on the
school board before.
Place 2
Briggs - I have the experience.
I have been around schools and I
have seen all different sides. I
know more about the people of
this school district, what their
feelings and priorities arc.
Wither - I am better qualified.
I have attended all school board
meetings for the past year and a
half and I am more familiar
with the immediate problems and
present situation of the school
board.
Do you feel that school business
should be conducted in the superin-
tendent s of/ice or at the school
hoard meetings?
All of the candidates felt that it
was the responsibility of the super-
intendent to run the school system
and that its business should be
conducted in his office.
4200 Smith School Road for anyone
else interested in attending.
Any other citizens who want to
make known their opinions about
the refectory may write:
Mr lltiiry Burk« U, Ulr
Tea** Parks and Wildlife Ihpt,
Austin. !r*as 7H744
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Sniithville, Tex. 789.57
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Catherman, Nancy. The Bastrop County Times (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 23, 1978, newspaper, March 23, 1978; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth335101/m1/3/: accessed June 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bastrop Public Library.