Gonzales ISD, District 3 Trustee

The Gonzales ISD District 3 school trustee race will feature incumbent Glenn Menking facing off against challenger D’Anna Robinson on the May 6 ballot.

The two candidates answered candidate questionnaires for the Gonzales Inquirer this week.

The candidates will be introduced and their responses to our questions will be given in ballot order. The responses have not been edited and are the words of the candidates in their entirety.

Name: Glenn Menking

Age: 60

Education: BBA in Accounting from Texas A&M University College Station

Current Occupation: Vice-President Compliance – Prosperity Bank

Certifications held: ICBA Internal Audit & Compliance for financial institutions. Current on all training & certification for Texas Association of School Boards

Previously elected to any office: current District #3 Trustee for GISD

Volunteer work or service in non-elected positions: Treasurer First Baptist Church-Gonzales, Deacon officer First Baptist Church-Gonzales, prior Come & Take It committee volunteer

Name: D’Anna Robinson

Age: 40

Education: Texas State University-Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, Minors in Business and Healthcare Administration

Current Occupation: Excel Complete Home Healthcare-Marketing Coordinator

Certifications held: Texas Educator Certificate-Generalist (EC-6)

Previously elected to any office: n/a

Volunteer work or service in non-elected positions: Gonzales Little League, President 2022-current, Treasurer 2021-2022; Gonzales Elementary PTO, Treasurer 2022-2023; East Avenue PTO, President 2018-2021, Member 2011-2018; Crossroads Parkinson’s Partners-Member; North Avenue PTO-Member.

Tell us about why you are running for office?  

Menking: I am running for re-election to the Board of Trustees for GISD in order to continue to assist in making positive changes. My time as a student at GISD provided me with a strong foundation for my future college experience and career opportunities.  I want to continue to be a part of the governing team that will provide strong educational opportunities for ALL current and future students.  GISD has many opportunities for advanced college credit but equally as important is the numerous vocational opportunities available.  I want to continue to expand on the vocational certifications available for students.  Currently, students can work to obtain certifications in auto mechanics, welding, floral design, cosmetology, fire-fighting, and certified nurses’ aide.  For next year, electrical and plumbing are being added through a partnership with Victoria College.  Future plans include adding HVAC and possibly aviation.   All vocational paths provide students with an early start on a career path that is in high demand and will lead to the opportunity to earn a respectful wage.  GISD is providing something for every student. The district provides opportunities for college bound students through the above-mentioned college credit classes and opportunities for students entering the work force with the career certifications. 

Robinson: I decided to run for District 3 because I felt it was an opportunity for me to give back to our district by bringing a new voice and ideas to the current seat. I am an Apache Alumni-Class of 00’, past educator and parent of 3 students currently enrolled in the district.

What are the greatest strengths of Gonzales ISD in your opinion?

Menking: I believe that one of the greatest strengths of GISD is its dedicated teaching staff.  Teachers are faced with many obstacles daily.  Even while navigating these challenges, they work tirelessly to provide strong educational instruction for their students.  Teachers are by far the most influential person in the educational career of a student.  A dedicated and hardworking student can get a quality education in our district.  Parental involvement and support are also necessary for the best results. 

Another strength is the various opportunities to participate in activities to provide a well-rounded experience at GISD.  The students can participate in UIL activities including academic, athletic, vocational, theatrical, and agricultural events that provide needed training for success after high school. 

There are many additional strengths of our district, but the last one I will mention is community support.  Even though I listed this one last, it is of upmost importance.  Students see and feel this support by observing community attendance at their events.  Gonzales enjoys a much larger crowd at graduation, athletic events, and fine arts performances than districts of a much larger size.  The community should take great pride in their role to make this a strength.

Robinson: Our Career & Technology Education Programs are an amazing strength for our district. With the various programs GISD is offering, whether their next step is college or the work force, students are well prepared with a strong foundation for after graduation.

I also think Dr. A (Elmer Avellenada) has been good for our schools. I think he is a breath of fresh air and comes to us with a wealth of knowledge to help move our district towards a brighter future.

What are some of the biggest challenges currently facing Gonzales ISD? 

Menking: Gonzales ISD, like all public-school districts, faces many challenges. The vast majority of these challenges originate from the state.  The state legislature imposes many requirements and restrictions on local districts.  Some of these are unfunded mandates which require the use of local funds to complete the newly established requirements.  Local resources are limited and newly required uses further stretch local tax dollars.  As a trustee, I try to wisely use tax dollars, and these new items complicate the oversight task of the trustees.

Student safety has always been a challenge for a district, but due to recent events, student safety has received more emphasis.  GISD has a safety committee that meets regularly to ensure that safety plans and facility safeguards are up-to-date and functioning as designed.  This committee includes local officials from the sheriff’s department, police department, DPS, and the emergency services district.  The safety of our students and faculty is enhanced by including all groups in this effort.

The final challenge that I will include is the staffing of teachers in hard to fill positions.  These include Bilingual, English Language Learners (ELL), secondary math, and secondary science.  A smaller district, like GISD, is competing with much larger districts to fill these positions from a limited group of applicants. 

GISD strives to meet each of these challenges to provide the best environment for the students and staff.

Robinson: I feel teacher retention has been a challenge. Many in the past are using GISD as a steppingstone and I want us to figure out how we can keep them here.    

Another challenge I see is our facilities. As a parent who has traveled many miles to watch sporting events, Gonzales is below what so many other surrounding schools have.

What is your vision for the Gonzales ISD five years from now? How about 10 years from now?

Menking: The five-year plan for Gonzales ISD should include the desire to be a “destination district.”  A school system where all parents and students desire to attend due to the opportunities available for students to receive a quality education.  GISD currently has many opportunities that neighboring districts do not have. It is my desire to continue to expand with new vocational and college preparation options.  More opportunities available to students will only increase the value of attending GISD.  Plans for the future also need to continue to increase the availability of counseling services for students in the area of mental health.  Students face many pressures today, and these services provide much needed assistance.  These counseling services will also help to address bullying issues.

Like the five-year plan, the ten-year plan needs to continue in a positive manner.  Additional industry certifications need to be available to be completed during a student’s high school career.  By better preparing students for success after high school, the student, their parents & the community all benefit.   

When all stakeholders are involved and do their part, the future for GISD can be very bright and produce positive results.

Robinson: My vision for GISD is that I would love for more consistency across the board with our schools. I also want to see better communication and trust between the district, parents, and our community. I feel over the years GISD has lost this and we need to work together to gain it back. I also want to see that our maintenance team has what they need to maintain what facilities we have currently or if given the option to explore upgrades where needed.

What do you think your role should be as a school board member?

Menking: The role of a school board member needs to be the same as the major responsibilities of school boards that are established by statue. These can be found on the district website, under the role of a board member. They include 5 major areas:

• Establish the vision and goals for the school district

• Be aware of policies, laws, and regulations that may impact the work of the district and implement policies that help to improve the work of the district and its schools

• To hire and evaluate the Superintendent

• To adopt and maintain an annual budget and set the annual tax rate that is aligned with the vision of the local school district

• Serve as a leader and representative of the community and as an advocate for all students and the school district

I have tried to use these as my guide for current board service and pledge to continue in this manner if re-elected.

Robinson: As a board member I want to be an advocate for our district! I want to be a voice for not only our students, but the staff as well. I want our district to be given the best options available to help our students succeed and make the community of Gonzales proud to be Apaches.