Candidates for H-E-B school board share their views

The two candidates vying for the Place 7 seat on the Hurst-Euless-Bedford school board have different views on how the district should be managed.

Fred Campos and Gary Jones are running for office for the first time.

Campos, 45, wants to focus on students having a good grounding in foreign languages and technology if he is elected.

Campos has three children in the school district, with the youngest starting kindergarten, another child in sixth grade and the oldest in high school.

“My first goal is to maintain our district’s high standards,” Campos said, adding that the schools have highly rated language programs and that the district is financially solid and maintains a balanced budget.

Jones, 56, who lives in Euless and has two children in high school, said he is concerned that not enough emphasis is being placed on ensuring that children who aren’t college bound can learn skills to help them get a job when they graduate. He is also concerned about wasteful spending in the district.

“I think that the district from teachers to school board members needs to be accountable to someone for how well they are doing in the real world,” Jones said.

“We are behind other countries, U.S. education isn’t what it used to be,” he said.

Jones questioned why the school district does not have programs to teach aircraft mechanics since Southwest and American Airlines have their headquarters in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Campos, a longtime volunteer in his children’s schools, also participated in the district’s leadership academy, which gives parents a comprehensive look at what it is like to serve on the school board.

Campos, who lives in Bedford, said he attended 22 board meetings to gain a better understanding of what is expected of a trustee.

Although he is pleased with the district’s progress and forward-thinking, Campos said there are some concerns on the horizon such as aging buildings that will need repairs.

The district will also have to grapple with issues like Common Core, he said.

Campos also owns a small business in Euless, DFW Web Designers, and said he wants to do all he can to make sure children are prepared for the future.

“I have a vested interest in our district, and I believe in educating all children whether it’s special needs or English as a second language, we’ve got to stay focused on that.”

Jones, who sells printing and copying equipment, said he is concerned about wasteful spending, but he did not give specific examples on how the district can better use its funds. He added that he has not attended board meetings.

“If I am elected, I don’t think it would take long to find those areas,” he said.

This story was originally published April 22, 2015 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Candidates for H-E-B school board share their views."