Plano ISD Board of Trustees Candidate Questionnaire Place 2: Paul P. Kaminsky
What are the top three reasons you want to serve as a Plano ISD School Board Trustee? 1) I want to ensure our schools are safe for students, teachers, and parents. No parent should ever have to worry about their child not coming home from school. 2) I will oppose any reduction of teachers. Teachers are one of the key ingredients to the educational success formula; Students + Parents + Teachers = Educational Success. 3) I want PISD to become a truly transparent organization by ensuring all public school business is conducted in the public arena, including work sessions. This would give the public an insight into the individual decision process of board members and their worthiness to hold such an office. What do you feel are the most important responsibilities of a trustee? The most important overall responsibility of a trustee is to ensure a quality public education is available to the public. This means the entire public regardless of economic status or ethnicity. A trustee must ensure schools are safe, teachers have what they need to educate, and make sure parents are part of the educational process. Also, a trustee must never use their office for any personal gain or obtain special privileges for their own children. I have always led by example and consider it a privilege to serve the needs of students, teachers, and parents. What do you see as the top opportunities and challenges in Plano ISD? It often seems we face more challenges than opportunities. The number one challenge we face is finding funds to run our school within the confines of state law. As you know public education is funded by property tax dollars and our tax dollars flow to Austin for redistribution. This needs to stop. Our tax dollars must be used to fund our schools before sending one dime to Austin. Also, I believe corporate America should invest in our schools, exactly to what degree should be determined by a PISD sponsored task force comprised of teachers, parents, and corporate leaders. This “task force” could very well create unrealized opportunities. When people work together as a team, great things can be accomplished. Why are you qualified to hold the position of trustee? I am qualified to hold the position of trustee because I have current classroom experience as a Plano ISD Substitute teacher. Several times a week I am in the trenches with our teachers meeting the challenges of teaching special education students. I am qualified because I have earned three degrees including an MBA which gives me a working understanding of budgeting and financing. I am qualified because I have honorably served our great country for 22 years as an US Army Officer. I understand the responsibilities and demands of being a leader. And most importantly, I am qualified because I am a parent who made a commitment to my children to see them educated by being with them every step of the way. Now, I extend my commitment to those students who are still within the public education system of Plano. P a g e | 1 of 2 Plano ISD Board of Trustees Candidate Questionnaire Place 2: Paul P. Kaminsky
What is the most important thing you want to accomplish if elected? The most important thing I could accomplish if elected would be to finally help establish true transparency at PISD. Once a system is truly transparent and everyone realizes the challenges, we can concentrate on the solutions. Transparency includes active listening and two‐way communications at all levels of an organization. Obtaining this goal requires a team effort and leaders who understand the team concept. As it stands now, we as parents and teachers often feel voiceless on many issues. There are many great challenges we will face in the immediate future and overcoming those challenges requires a team of parents, teachers, administrators, and trustees all working together to make PISD the destination for the best education. P a g e | 2 of 2