Carrollton Leader > News
Bekker to run for LISD
By Chris Roark, croark@acnpapers.com
Cornel Bekker feels there is a disparity between the success of schools in Lewisville ISD. So she is running for the LISD Board of Trustees in hopes of changing that.
Bekker, a retired business owner/optometrist, filed Monday to run for Place 2, a seat occupied by Vernell Gregg, the board president. The race will also include Trisha Sheffield, who filed last month.
Bekker, who lives in east Lewisville near The Colony, said she has noticed inequality in schools as she has watched her two sons grow up in the district.
“This is a wonderful district, but there are certain schools that stay behind and do not perform as well as others,” Bekker said. “There could be many reasons for it. I don’t think it has to do with age or demographics, but there needs to be something done about it. We want the best possible education for our students. We have very bright kids. But some schools are underperforming. I want to provide a better environment for all of the students.”
Bekker said technology is a key area in which the district needs to focus its attention.
“We are living in a world that is constantly changing,” Bekker said. “The jobs involving technology today did not exist 10 or 15 years ago. We need to get the students involved in the basics so they can have the tools to succeed in the world.”
Bekker said technology is just one area the district needs to focus on to close the gap between the schools’ success rate.
“Why are certain schools exemplary while others are academically acceptable,” Bekker said. “What can we do to change that?”
According to the most recent Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) that was released in January, LISD has 26 campuses rated “Exemplary” by the Texas Education Agency. There are 21 “Recognized” schools and 16 “Academically Acceptable” campuses.
Bekker said overcrowding is another issue but that it goes hand-in-hand with the schools’ success.
“If all of the schools are performing, then overcrowding won’t be a problem because parents won’t mind which school their child goes to,” Bekker said, adding that Hebron High School has an overcrowding problem, whereas The Colony High School does not. Hebron is rated “Exemplary.” The Colony is rated “Academically Acceptable.”
Bekker, who has lived in Lewisville for four years, has served two years as the PTA president at Independence Elementary School.
“I made my decision to run because you can sit back and complain, or you can do something,” Bekker said. “And complaining isn’t working.”
Bekker, a retired business owner/optometrist, filed Monday to run for Place 2, a seat occupied by Vernell Gregg, the board president. The race will also include Trisha Sheffield, who filed last month.
Bekker, who lives in east Lewisville near The Colony, said she has noticed inequality in schools as she has watched her two sons grow up in the district.
“This is a wonderful district, but there are certain schools that stay behind and do not perform as well as others,” Bekker said. “There could be many reasons for it. I don’t think it has to do with age or demographics, but there needs to be something done about it. We want the best possible education for our students. We have very bright kids. But some schools are underperforming. I want to provide a better environment for all of the students.”
Bekker said technology is a key area in which the district needs to focus its attention.
“We are living in a world that is constantly changing,” Bekker said. “The jobs involving technology today did not exist 10 or 15 years ago. We need to get the students involved in the basics so they can have the tools to succeed in the world.”
Bekker said technology is just one area the district needs to focus on to close the gap between the schools’ success rate.
“Why are certain schools exemplary while others are academically acceptable,” Bekker said. “What can we do to change that?”
According to the most recent Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) that was released in January, LISD has 26 campuses rated “Exemplary” by the Texas Education Agency. There are 21 “Recognized” schools and 16 “Academically Acceptable” campuses.
Bekker said overcrowding is another issue but that it goes hand-in-hand with the schools’ success.
“If all of the schools are performing, then overcrowding won’t be a problem because parents won’t mind which school their child goes to,” Bekker said, adding that Hebron High School has an overcrowding problem, whereas The Colony High School does not. Hebron is rated “Exemplary.” The Colony is rated “Academically Acceptable.”
Bekker, who has lived in Lewisville for four years, has served two years as the PTA president at Independence Elementary School.
“I made my decision to run because you can sit back and complain, or you can do something,” Bekker said. “And complaining isn’t working.”
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