InstantNewsKaty.com

Katy ISD school board candidates Ross Raymond and Stacy Edwards-Tomdio have responded to the latest reader-submitted question in InstantNewsKaty’s online candidate forum.

Raymond is challenging incumbent Robert Shaw for the Position 6 seat. Edwards-Tomdio is running against Neal Howard for Position 7.

Howard declined to take part in the forum.

Shaw initially agreed to participate, but then withdrew because, he said, not all candidates were participating.

The question, as submitted by InstantNewsKaty readers, was:

“There is currently a bill before the Texas Legislature that would allow vouchers for children with special needs. Would you favor, in general, allowing parents of special needs children the right to choose where they believe their children would be better served? Why or why not?”

These are the candidate’s unedited responses in the order they were received:

Stacy Edwards-Tomdio –

“I appreciate the question and please know I support anything which helps our children and for those with ‘special needs’ sometimes it takes ‘special things’ like a voucher to appropriately respond to their needs. 

“I substitute for Katy ISD and when I am called it is to serve in the special needs classrooms.  I see first hand how hard it is for some of these wonderful children to progress and if they are better able to flourish in another environment, I believe their parents should be given the option to pursue that opportunity.”

Ross Raymond –

“There has been debate about vouchering students in general for more than a generation.  School districts must welcome all students whatever their physical, mental, or psychological situation.  That means our school campuses have to be all things to all people.

“I believe KISD has done a good job in this area.  Even so, I understand why some parents may choose to opt out of the pubic school with their special needs child.

“Some students I see in our schools suffer from conditions which make me wonder if they are in the proper setting.  My heart goes out to these children and parents and I say a little prayer, ‘There but for the grace of God go I.’ All parents agree we want the right education and care for our child.  I would not oppose the use of vouchers for families in this situation.

“By way of disclaimer I should note I am the parent of a ‘special needs’ child and know the anguish and joy parents experience.  There is nothing so sad as to see your child excluded from many of life’s opportunities and nothing quite like the joy of being at their side when they triumph in other ways.

“We have been involved in all educational and medical decisions on his behalf and at times have found it difficult to get the help we needed.  Even so, I do not think we would have ‘vouchered out’ if we had been given the opportunity.

“Thank you for your question.”

Neal Howard –

Declined to take part in the forum.

Robert Shaw –

Declined to take part in the forum.

Additional questions and answers will be published in the remaining days leading up to the May 9 election.