Q1: What should the top three priorities of a school system budget be?

A: Maintain programs that attract many families to Howard County, such as elementary school GT programs and music programs. These initiatives also help propel our students toward future success.

Keep class sizes small and ensure there are adequate support staff. This is crucial because larger class sizes can reduce instructional effectiveness, and fewer support staff may pull teachers away from focusing on instruction.

Provide sufficient resources for special education programs. Special education students should receive the attention and support they need. We must allocate resources where they are needed so that special education students do not have to travel far for their education.

Q2: How much access should students have to cellphones and other personal devices during the school day?

A: Students should not have access to cell phones during instructional hours, as their use can distract students from learning and disrupt teachers’ ability to teach. Many teachers have raised this issue with the Board of Education in the past, but their concerns were not addressed.

Students’ access to personal devices should only be allowed if the devices are for medical purposes. Even in such cases, students should provide a doctor’s note before being permitted to use personal devices.

Q3: What do you think are the best ways to recruit and retain educators?

A: We should actively recruit teachers by targeting colleges known for producing educators and attending professional conferences. Additionally, we should advertise our positions in professional publications, emphasizing the benefits of teaching in Howard County.

For our current teachers and those we successfully recruit, we must offer the necessary support. It’s essential to understand their needs and concerns and address them effectively. We should also provide ongoing training opportunities to help them excel in their roles and grow professionally.

Q4: Do you support Maryland parents’ recent efforts to restrict the content available to students in school libraries? Please explain your answer.

A: I do not believe there should be restrictions on the content available to students in school libraries, as long as it benefits their education and prepares them for college and careers. In fact, I will advocate for providing all books that help improve students’ proficiency in Mathematics and English Language Arts. It’s important to note that nearly 60% of students in our county are not proficient in Mathematics, and almost 40% are not proficient in English Language Arts. A parent recently contacted me about a shortage of books in a GT class, where the teacher had to retype textbook materials for students, and parents had to raise funds to purchase books. I would advocate for using our valuable school budget to ensure these GT class books are made available to students.

Q5: When your district needs to redraw school boundaries, what should be the top priority?

A: If school boundaries in our county need to be redrawn, the top priority should be creating stable, community-based school attendance areas. Transporting students outside their communities can weaken their connection to the communities they live in. Additionally, longer bus rides mean students will have less time to sleep, adding more stress to their already stressful and demanding school lives. Students who participate in before- or after-school activities will also face greater difficulty getting home. Furthermore, random redrawing of school boundaries deprives families of the freedom to choose the schools they want for their children. Many families move to specific areas of our county so their children can attend the school they specifically chose. Randomly redrawing boundaries disrupts their educational plans and may even cause financial loss due to the potential devaluation of their homes.

Q6: How would you balance the competing priorities of funding school construction/renovation and keeping property taxes low?

A: School construction and renovation cannot be avoided when we face overcapacity issues or the need to maintain a safe and healthy environment for students and teachers. We should treat our schools as we would our own homes. If our family grows, we typically move to a larger house or apartment. If there’s a maintenance issue at home, we fix or renovate immediately. So why should we defer maintenance on our schools? Why should we let our students suffer? Therefore, school construction and renovation should not be delayed.

Regarding taxes, I do not advocate for tax increases. School construction and renovation can be accomplished without raising taxes. The county government can provide funding for these projects by reallocating money to schools at the average historical percentage of the total county budget. We should also advocate for increased state support for school construction and renovation due to rapid rising population and student enrollment. The state should allocate more funds to fast-growing counties like Howard County.

Q7: Why should voters elect you?

A: The Howard County Board of Education is a non-partisan position, and I am an unaffiliated voter running for this role. I have no party endorsements or support from political establishments. I listen to voters whose voices are often ignored, and I aim to serve everyone across party lines, including those underrepresented by the current Board of Education incumbents or other candidates.

My focus is solely on education: recruiting and retaining the best teachers, ensuring the best learning environments for students, providing a top-tier curriculum, and delivering a bright future for all students.

With over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, including nearly 20 years at management position, I am uniquely equipped to address the budget challenges facing our school system. I also have three children who attended Howard County public schools, all of whom went on to college. My oldest has earned a Ph.D. Therefore, I understand what it takes to prepare children to be college or career ready.

I’ve demonstrated my hardworking spirit throughout this campaign. Please vote for me, vote for Andre Gao, so I can work for you. Thank you.