I have sent these ten questions to the two men running for state rep in El Paso this year. This race is pretty interesting because one of the challengers, Dee Margo, defeated long-time republican representative Pat Haggerty, who WAS going to try to become Speaker of the House in Texas, probably the most important political position in the state.

This is the transcript of the email I sent both men. When I get a reply, I will post, as I promised in the email.

I think it might be cool if all the ed tech bloggers would send questions to, and then post the answers to education technology created questions on their blogs to anyone running for office locally in their area.

So I challenge all of the my blogger buds to try to get their local politicians to lay the smack down about what they think about ed tech.

Here is my effort:

Gentlemen,

I have an educational technology related blog site here in El Paso and was wondering if you could answer a few questions for the people that subscribe to my feed?

I will not edit your responses and put up exactly what you respond. I will inform my readers that you have been asked the questions, and post the questions online so the readers can see what you have been asked.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Q1: Do you favor the current method of funding schools in Texas? Why or why not?  ( If you do not favor the current method, what method would you suggest?)

Q2:  Both of you, according to your websites suggest new programs. For instance, Mr. Moody suggests K to University programs, and Mr. Margo suggests incentive based pay for teachers. How would you both propose to pay for such programs?

Q3: El Paso area schools, through no fault of their own,  are notorious for being behind other areas in the state in spending for technology. How would you suggest that the state help El Paso, or for that matter any property poor school district, get up to the same level of technology spending that other districts in the state have been at for years?

Q4: In our community, there are many families without access to the internet. Yet, much if not all of the state educational information is located on the internet. We are effectively not allowing these parents to be part of the education of their children. How would you address this issue?

Q5: School districts across the state must respond to unfunded mandates from both the state and federal levels. For instance, in a few years, the state will require all student statewide  testing such as End of Course and TAKS tests to be administered online. The state is not providing any additional monies to districts to make sure they have the equipment to provide for this. Can you address exactly what you would do to help districts with unfunded mandates, both from the state and the federal levels?

Q6: How do you plan to address the continuing teacher and administrator shortages?  Which of these are viable plans in your estimation:  

Recruit teachers from other countries.

Rehire retirees with few restrictions.

Help districts reimburse individuals who go to or return to school to become certified teachers.

Q7: One of the greatest expenses in any school district is the installation of technology followed by the refreshment of  said technology.  What is your plan to give districts relief from the costs associated with these instructional and administrative tools?

Q8: What is your stand on electronic textbooks as opposed to traditional paper texts?

Q9: Student Assessment  like the TAKS test has mutated over the years from a simple student diagnostic to a high stakes program where people's jobs are place din jeopardy if scores are not met. Do you support high stakes testing such as the TAKS test? Why or why not?

Q10: What can you do specifically, as a new representative in Austin with little experience and little clout, to help El Paso schools?

Thank you for your time.

I look forward to reading and posting your responses.

Tim Holt

El Paso