Shari Chambers

Shari Chambers

Contact

Personal website

Shari Chambers was a candidate for Place 7 representative on the Lewisville Independent School District school board in Texas. Chambers was defeated in the by-district general election on May 6, 2017.

Chambers participated in a candidate forum on March 21, 2017. Click here to view a video of the forum.

Elections

2017

See also: Lewisville Independent School District elections (2017)

Two of the seven seats on the Lewisville Independent School District board of trustees in Texas were up for general election on May 6, 2017. In her bid for re-election to Place 6, incumbent Kristi Hassett defeated challengers Jon Hanna, Eric Parker, and Peter Rabner. Place 7 incumbent Tracy Scott Miller defeated challengers Shari Chambers and Sandra Weinstein. A third challenger, Colleen Shaw, originally filed in the Place 7 race, but she formally withdrew her candidacy on April 19, 2017, citing personal reasons. While she no longer campaigned for the position, Shaw's name still appeared on the ballot.

Results

Lewisville Independent School District, Place 7 General Election, 3-year term, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Tracy Scott Miller Incumbent	54.35%	6,491
Sandra Weinstein	20.97%	2,505
Shari Chambers	14.94%	1,784
Colleen Shaw	9.74%	1,163
Total Votes		11,943
Source: Denton County Elections, "Cumulative Report–Official: Denton County–2017 May General and Special Elections," accessed June 6, 2017

Funding

See also: Campaign finance in the Lewisville Independent School District elections

Chambers reported no contributions but $1,163.00 in expenditures to the Lewisville Independent School District, which left her campaign with $1,163.00 in debt as of April 11, 2017.

Campaign themes

2017

Candidate website

Chambers highlighted the following statement on her campaign website:

“	Why I am running; I am running for Place 7 on the LISD school board because I believe the trustees must be responsive and receptive to the public that elects them. I feel a new voice for our community is needed and I am that voice. Trustees are the communities advocates for public education and responsible for the provision and maintenance of our schools. At this time our school board meetings will not allow 2-way communication. I feel board trustees need to be accessible to teachers, students, and the community for open dialog. 'Transparency' is more than just an impressive word. While LISD currently has a website with tremendous amounts of information and the word 'Transparency' used throughout not all information is readily visible unless you know the domain. Information found on the website showed monies from the 2008 Bond were still unused in February 2017, when presented to a trustee I was called a liar. A short time later the website was updated to show the monies spent including interest. LISD trustees have implied that the only work done with the District of Innovation (DOI) program was involving the 2017-2018 school calendars. In actuality this board of trustees has already completed the first two (2) steps of the process to become a District of Innovation, and have slated a committee to work on the academic package. LISD is currently just over 1 billion dollars in debt and asking to add another $737+ million dollars in a Bond issue that may not be addressing all of our communities’ needs.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

The Dallas Morning News survey

Chambers participated in the following survey conducted by The Dallas Morning News. The questions provided by The Dallas Morning News appear bolded, and Chambers' responses follow below.

Why are you running for this office, and why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?

“	I am running for Place 7 on the LISD school board because I believe the trustees must be responsive and receptive to the public that elects them. I feel a new voice for our community is needed and I am that voice. Trustees are the communities advocates for public education and responsible for the provision and maintenance of our schools. At this time our school board meetings will not allow 2-way communication. I feel board trustees need to be accessible to teachers, students, and the community for open dialog. 'Transparency' is more than just an impressive word. While LISD currently has a website with tremendous amounts of information and the word 'Transparency' used throughout not all information is readily visible unless you know the domain. Information found on the website showed monies from the 2008 Bond were still unused in February 2017, when presented to a trustee I was called a liar. A short time later the website was updated to show the monies spent including interest. LISD trustees have implied that the only work done with the District of Innovation (DOI) program was involving the 2017-2018 school calendars. In actuality this board of trustees has already completed the first two (2) steps of the process to become a District of Innovation, and have slated a committee to work on the academic package. LISD is currently just over 1 billion dollars in debt and asking to add another $737+ million dollars in a Bond issue that may not be addressing all of our communities’ needs. When you vote for your 'School Board Trustee' you are saying this is who 'I' want to be MY VOICE. Your concerns are my concerns, your problems are my problems, and if I let you down our children pay the price. I pledge equal representation for all of the Lewisville school district communities so that everyone has input in the important decisions which affect their students and their pocket books. That is why I am asking for your vote.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

If elected, what two issues would you give the most attention and resources?

“	The immediate attention would be to restore communication and true transparency within our school district and our community. It should not be a surprise when a community school is on the not to rebuilt list, or for parents to still be wondering what the fate of their students will be months after such announcement. LISD is currently just over 1 billion dollars in debt and asking to add another $737+ million dollars in a Bond issue that may not be addressing all of our communities’ needs. There is a need to budget for maintenance items moving forward, and address all LISD schools with our communities in an open forum; not a 90 person committee with a paid Facilitator to reach a preconceived outcome.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

For non-incumbent trustees: Have you attended any school board meetings? If so, what have you learned about how a board member can be effective?

“	I have been attending school board meeting, and have learned that without 2-way communication you cannot be effective. Currently our school board members do not allow any communication between the community that elects them other than filling out a comment card and speaking for 3 minutes. I feel board trustees need to be accessible to teachers, students, and the community for open dialog. When they vote they are saying you are my voice, school board members must be responsive and receptive to the people that elect them.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

As you look around the country, what innovative ideas would you recommend for improving classroom performance?

“	Lewisville ISD has continued to move into the technology world with the 1:X Initiative and forge ahead in our classrooms through Strategic Design core beliefs. Maintaining the balance between technology responsibility and teacher instruction is what makes LISD students so successful.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

Given the current funding structure, how does your district meet the academic needs of its low-income students? Are you willing to ask voters to approve a tax increase to create or expand these programs?

“	LISD philosophy has been community schools are a priority. Our school district is currently just over 1 billion dollars in debt and asking for a $737+ billion dollar bond that may be leaving several community academic needs behind. Hedrick Elementary is a second home to many of our students but it is being torn down and will not be rebuilt if the bond passes. Several items on the bond are for maintenance items, playground equipment, bathroom renovation, when school remodeling or rebuilding was left off. I would ask for a tax increase or a bond if I knew budgeting had been planned for appropriately.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

Many districts are exploring creative ways to save money or shift costs to parents and students. What creative measures would you favor or oppose and why?

“	I believe it is imperative that as a School Board Trustee we are always maintaining a Top to Bottom audit at all of our Campuses and Facilities to make sure programs, processes, and projects are still working at the highest efficiency. And when we find areas that we can work on or that needs to be revised we do so as quickly as time allows. I am not a advocate of shifting costs to parents and students, unfortunately there are times that they may need to be done but only when the community has been fully informed and aware of the steps taken to avoid such an action.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

The state has adopted an A through F accountability system for district and campuses. Do you favor or oppose this system and why?

“	Currently I am opposed to the A through F accountability system House bill 2804, from the 84th Legislature that has been in the planning stages since 2015. Districts were given a 'What If' grading for the 2015-2016 school years so that districts could provide input into how the grading might be improved or inaccurate. While I agree with the current school board trustees decision to write a letter stating they would not support the House Bill, we need to do the work within the Legislature to help fight for our school district. The current House bill 2804 A through F accountability relies strongly on the STAAR testing current and previous year, and subjective information. I do believe it is important to have an accountability system that would assess how districts are meeting students needs and allow for the customization of curriculum to better meet those needs.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

How would you assess the district’s efforts to improve graduation rates and increase the number of students prepared for college? What further improvements would you advocate?

“	Lewisville ISD is continuing to employ outstanding, caring teachers and staff that are instrumental in preparing our students for college. I do believe at this point the Trustees need to take a step back and make sure that the community schools we have, the feeder schools going to our High Schools are going to maintain that excellence instead of closing community schools.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

What schools in your district have been particularly effective in getting every child up to grade level in reading and math?

“	While all the schools in Lewisville ISD are faced with challenges, and each does excellent work with our students in reading and math. We do have some schools that meet a very difficult challenge with a diverse group of children and parents that English may not even be a language they understand at all. The Principal, Teachers, and Staff have gone above and beyond and have the attitude that everyone can succeed given the chance at Hedrick Elementary. Independ	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

How would you assess your district’s current school choice efforts, and what changes are needed?

“	LISD allows students to transfers between schools which creates a "School Choice" within the district. We have some schools that offer Dual language programs, Gifted and Talented programs, Circle of friends programs, and Multi Age K-1 is a research-based instructional program where Kindergarten and 1st-grade students work in a collaborative classroom environment together.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

How would you assess your superintendent’s performance?

“	Dr. Kevin Rogers is a former educator, as superintendent he supports the needs of our campuses. As a school board trustee I would look forward to working with Dr. Rogers to meet the needs of all of our students needs.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

Where do you stand on the importance of early-childhood education? Would you support increasing class-size ratios at other grade levels in order to introduce or expand pre-K?

“	I believe early-childhood education provides a solid base for our children socially, and educationally. These options provide the confidence for children to be with other children and adults learning new skills and then return home to the safety of home. The class-size ratios in our current grades are working well and increasing them would not create a beneficial situation for the students. Our teachers have a limited amount of resources for the students in their classrooms, which means that they have to pair students up that are advanced enough to work alone with students that may need some help so that they can help more needy children. Increasing the class size would be detrimental for all of the students.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

What resources are lacking in schools in your district? How could the district deliver services in the most cost-effective manner?

“	Currently Lewisville ISD has a Tax-supported debt over $1 billion. Districts in our area of similar size have less Tax-supported outstanding debt and only a small margin of outstanding debt per student. It is imperative our school board starts to budget for current and future maintenance and operating expenses instead of budgeting for the next Bond proposal. We need to start looking from top to bottom in all areas to meet needs first. Then engage the community at board meetings, discussions to meet our district needs together. Our schools have needs for renovation, construction, improvements that do need addressed, we need to make sure we are not just adding to an already overwhelming debt.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

In what ways can your district’s communications with parents be improved? Likewise, how can parental involvement in your district improve?

“	Currently school board meetings are limited to no interaction between the community, parents, teachers, and the school board trustees. School board trustees need to be responsive to the public that elects them, there needs to be 2-way communication. There has to be open dialog when projects are a success, and especially when they are failing. Our Schools have Email, Remind101 and Skylert for communication between teachers and parents and it works great. Why is it then our school board trustees cannot have the same open communication.	”
—Shari Chambers (2017)

See also

• Lewisville Independent School District, Texas
• Lewisville Independent School District elections (2017)

External links

Suggest a link

• Lewisville Independent School District
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook page