UISD district 7 trustee incumbent Cookie Muller faces
John M. Bruce and Elizabeth Rodriguez

Briefly provide an overview of biographical data that includes your educational background, work experience, civic affiliations, and family (your spouse's name, the names of your children).

John M. Bruce: I graduated from Texas A&I University - Kingsville with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and History. I've been director of the Laredo Job Corp Center for 16 years. I am a TEA certified classroom teacher, and am a certified commissioned peace officer. I am a licensed law enforcement instructor and certified K-9 trainer/officer, and was a SWAT team member with the Sheriff's Dept. I am a licensed customs broker. I served in the U.S. Army Reserve and am a Special Forces Operations officer. I was a UISD Blue Ribbon Committee member in 2001. I am a past president of the United High School Booster Club, an Explorer Post 437 Boy Scouts of America advisor, and a member of the Laredo Masonic Lodge, the Laredo Shriners, and the Laredo Elks Club. My wife Elsa and I have two children, Janice and Robert, both college students.

Cookie Muller: I have served as a trustee for UISD for the last six years, serving currently as board president. I have also served as vice-president and secretary. I am a lifelong Laredoan and a graduate of Martin High School and of Texas Tech University. I earned a Master's in Education from Texas A&I at Laredo. I am a registered and licensed dietitian and a licensed real estate broker in business with my husband Albert F. Muller, Jr. We have two children, both whom graduated from UISD schools. We also have three grandchildren. I have taught in California and in Texas for 10 years, both in public and private schools. I am chairperson of UISD finance committee and I represent UISD on the Webb County Appraisal District 2.

Elizabeth Rodriguez: I graduated from United High School in 1985. After graduation I left to Monterrey, Mexico to study Business Administration for one year. I am currently attending LCC and hope to earn a degree in Computer Information Systems.

I am a member of the PTC at Matias de Llano Elementary. I am also a member of St. John Newman Catholic Church.

I am married to Javier Rodriguez, owner of Sun Control Systems. We have two boys, Javier, Jr., 9, and Julian, 6. They both currently attend Matias de Llano. For the past ten years I have helped manage my husband's business. I was previously employed with United ISD in the Human Resources Department. I was with UISD for approximately three years. I am currently employed with Region One Education Service Center.

Assess the state of the district in terms of board leadership, accountability to state educational standards, and keeping up with unprecedented growth. Assess the performance of this board.

Bruce: The administration -- midlevel, managers, principals -- are probably some of the best in Texas. They're conscientious, knowledgable, serious people. The district couldn't ask for better people at that level.

In accountability to state educational standards, I think the district is not doing as well as they should. I'm not privy to much of the information, but just looking at all that's coming out in the media, there are issues I have concerns with. I've been told that they don't have a vertically aligned curriculum, and that's kind of an important thing not to have.

They don't have many exemplary schools. Each high school has a feeder group. My understanding is that there is only one group that has exemplary schools.

According to data from Laredo Community College and Texas A&M International University, around 70 percent of high school graduates coming to these schools take remedial courses. I would question why. Also, I question the dropout rate. There's no tracking of where these students end up. The schools claim they have a one percent dropout rate. I submit that they do not. It's closer to 45 to 50 percent. I think the fallacy is, we can't track them. We don't verify.

Keeping up with unprecedented growth -- I was on a Blue Ribbon committee last year. They told us that UISD has to build one new school a year to keep up with the growth. That they anticipate bringing in 1,000 new students every year.

The problem is in goal-setting and policy-making and governing. They're having to dip into that fund balance to do some things they need to do. I was at a budget meeting a couple of months ago and they're $1 million short to finish they school year. If the board can't give guidance better than that, the district will never improve. There's another thing I was told about -- 80 percent of the district's budget is in salaries. They're running the district on the remaining 20 percent. The board has done a poor job of giving guidance and governing the district.

I think leadership problems in the district are not with the employees but with the board. I believe the board is micromanaging the district. You certainly get the impression that some of the board members, not all, but some of them, are trying to micromanage the district. They should not be involved in micromanagement. They need to be involved in policy and government issues.

Muller: This has been a very forward-thinking board, a board that puts the needs of children at the forefront of its agenda. I think the record of this board speaks for itself. We have worked together to do all possible to help teachers help students improve TAAS scores. In the best way possible and without a tax increase, this board addressed the growth of the district by seeing to the construction of six new elementary schools, a new middle high school, and a new high school.

We have worked together to first address the needs of students, without raising taxes and within the parameters of a balanced budget. There is methodology and continuity to the scope of our work to make sure that the educational needs of children come before all else. Not only have TAAS scores improved dramatically over the last six years, but six of our campuses have been named exemplary schools, 12 have been recognized, and 13 were named acceptable. We have had a Texas Mentor School, a Texas Merit Winner, and a National Blue Ribbon School.

Rodriguez: UISD is growing at a high rate and financial accountability is crucial. The taxpayers' monies and state allocated monies should be closely observed in order to have the resources to educate our students.

I believe the board has done a good job; however there is always room for improvement. I feel that the board should work and collaborate as a team The board should respect members of the community as well as each other. Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.

What experience do you have in public service?

Bruce: I've never held an elected office before. I have been involved in community service.

Muller: My service on the board has been a commitment of thousands of volunteer hours, as has been the commitment of my fellow board members. After six years, I am well-versed in laws and codes that govern education and how a school district must spend its funds. In addition to my UISD board service, I serve on the boards of the Children's Advocacy Center and Catholic Communications (KHOY). I am a past president of Leadership Texas and chair of the Diabetes Awareness and Education Advisory Committee of Laredo.

Rodriguez: I have been a tutor for the H.O.S.T.S. program at Matias de Llano as well as a Parent Volunteer. When my children were much younger, I made sure to dedicate most of my time to them. Now, as they get older, I am looking forward to becoming more involved in the community.

What strengths of character would you bring to the process of overseeing the needs of UISD?

Bruce: I believe the best thing I can bring is professional leadership and discipline. If you're going to be focused on a goal, you have to be disciplined enough to stay focused on that goal. You can't get sidetracked.

I'm a classroom teacher certified by the state. I was a union member all that time. Plus, I have 19 years of law enforcement experience. I was certified as a SWAT team member and a narcotics K-9 handler.

Muller: I believe I am a fair person, one who knows how to prioritize, and one who understands that the needs of children, children first, come before all other issues we have to deal with as board members. I'm a team player and

Rodriguez: I would help the superintendent develop strong employee recruitment and help in the retention of the teaching staff. Also, help develop a stronger mentoring program for our young new teachers coming into the district. I know that the community is also concerned about the safety of our schools, and I was happy to see that the district has implemented the UISD Crime Stoppers program. We just need to make sure that these programs are implemented accordingly and that we provide all the support necessary to have these types of programs succeed. As long as our children know they are safe in school, it makes learning that much easier.

What motivates you to seek this position as UISD trustee?

Bruce: I would categorize myself as a typical citizen, and usually citizens go with the flow until something tweaks them up a little bit. The first thing that came along for me was the gang and drug issues. The second thing was this board not taking advantage of WADA (Weighted Average Daily Attendance) money from Plano School District. The amount that was put in the newspaper was $1.4 million the first year. They had to buy a reading program that was rated number one, and buy computers that would run that program. The balance was for the district to do with as they wanted. Dr. Barber had earmarked the money for safety issues at the schools.

What the story in the paper doesn't follow up one was that that was a multi-year package, with revenues of $2.5 million per year. In essence, the district threw away seven, eight million dollars. It wasn't $1.4 million, it was many millions of dollars.

Muller: I want to continue the improvements this board has initiated across the district, not only academically but also in the building of new campuses. So much has been accomplished in a short time. I've made a personal commitment to the students of this district and would like the opportunity to continue to serve.

Rodriguez: My children as well as all the children in our district. I want to help make a difference in the education of children. Oftentimes we don't realize just how important education is until we become parents. If I can help make even a little bit of difference in the future of education, for me it will be a great satisfaction. For my children and everyone else's children it will mean a better and brighter future.

Please state what you believe are three of UISD's greatest priorities in best serving the educational needs of its students.

Bruce: You have to look at the campuses. The students have to be safe. If they feel intimidated, if they feel uncomfortable, they will not learn.

There has to be a curriculum that ties everything together.

The other aspect to this is that the district needs to manage it resources properly. Managing their resources is critical. It goes back to the leadership of the board.

Third was the selection process of the superintendent. It was flawed. This board should have backed out of the process and started over.

My understanding was that no one from Laredo was given the opportunity to interview. Laredo has a university, a junior college, and two school districts, and the board said no one from Laredo was qualified to interview. So the board is basically telling the people of Laredo, "None of you are qualified." I'm talking about the process before someone was hired was flawed. It's not the person holding the job, it's the process that got him to the job, that I have a problem with.

Muller: Children first. It's that simple. We meet their needs by bringing into the district the best educators possible and by supporting those educators with technology, training, and anything else they tell us they need. We meet the needs of children by making sure our campuses are safe. I would like to see a school dedicated strictly to Career and Technology.

We must continue to remain accountable to the taxpayers whose hard-earned dollars keep the district moving. We have a responsibility to spend that money in the most judicious manner possible.

Hold educators accountable. Pay teachers for performance. Both of these would radically change what a teacher puts into her lessons and what a child gets from them.

Rodriguez: 1) Children should be the first priority as well as the recruitment and retention of good educators.

2) Financial responsibility of the district. The district needs to be held accountable for their expenditures.

3) Teamwork. We all need to work closely together and make the district stronger and well-managed. The district's name says it all: "United."

In closing, I would like to say if I am elected, I will have an open door policy. I don't want anyone, parents, staff, or students, to feel intimidated by a board member. I will listen and I will help, because I care. I will be a new voice for your children.