By George Slaughter
Garima DGupta (Garima DGupta photo)
Garima DGupta, a teacher, is seeking the Position 6 seat on the Katy Independent School District Board of Trustees.
She is one of six candidates seeking the seat. Incumbent Susan Gesoff, an engineer, is seeking reelection. Other candidates include former trustee Rebecca Fox; Bonnie Anderson, an assessor quality management analyst; William X. Branch, a truck driver; and Joe Wojcik, a security investigator and adjunct college professor.
Voters will also decide whether to approve a $676 million bond proposal. The bond package has four propositions:
- Proposition A: New schools, renovations, safety & security and building component replacements, for $591,368,568.
- Proposition B: Classroom & campus technology, for $59,755,242.
- Proposition C: Natatorium for the new High School #10, for $13,842,610.
- Proposition D: Campus athletic building component replacements, for $11,260,000.
Early voting is April 19-29. Election Day is May 1.
1. Why do you want this job?
As a responsible citizen, I have always believed in giving back to the community by being involved, going the extra mile and doing the best I can. My community has always supported me during my hardships (when I faced a near-death situation during pregnancy due to medical malpractice, Hurricane Harvey…). I have seen multiple foreclosures in our community during Harvey. Many neighbors foreclosed their homes and left due to financial situations. I still miss them a lot. People were and are going through financial crisis due to the present job market. As of April 2021, Katy ISD has a 34.2% economically disadvantaged student population. I get upset when I see, due to the district’s negligence and mistakes, taxpayer money being used for lawsuits instead of the actual purpose for which it is supposed to be used–student education. I strongly believe that these lawsuits can be avoided if as a district we are more efficient, empathetic, and adhere to the guidelines and primary goal, which is good education for students. I have time, passion, and commitment, and I strongly believe that I will be able to bridge the gaps that exist in the system.
2. Briefly discuss your professional background, and how that will help you if elected.
Being an educator in higher education, I understand the challenges that students, teachers, and staffs face on a day-to-day basis. I have also served as a policy analyst in the veteran affairs department. If elected, I will bring all my strengths and experiences and will work towards bridging the gaps that exist in the system.
3. If elected, what would your top three priorities for the district be, and why?
- Coordination, collaboration, and more communication between the district and the board. I will reach out to people through both digital and non-digital media, understand their issues and challenges, and will work towards our common goal which is student education and growth. This will reduce the number of lawsuits.
- Literacy is a human right. But the recent Katy ISD plan document published reveals an urgent need to continue to find efficient and effective means for meeting the staffing demands created by increased dyslexia student numbers. And this could also affect the district’s potential performance level. If elected, I will propose screening students early and provide those at risk with the intensive structured literacy they deserve. If elected, one of my top priorities will be to address this concern. I will collaborate with the department and propose policies to help teachers so that they are prepared to meet the needs of students with dyslexia, whose gifts and potential are often shrouded by an unaddressed difficulty with reading.
- If elected one of my priorities will be promoting Innovation through industry-based certifications, internships and more STEAM projects to infuse interests, revise curriculum and keep it updated, including creating committee-approved e-textbooks, include small coding classes for younger generations.
4. Do you support the $676 million bond issue that has been put on the ballot? What would you tell undecided voters about it?
We need some support for the growing community. But, I am not a trustee nor was in the bond committee so I do not have much information on the bond.
5. Do you favor establishing a Virtual High School for the district to open in the upcoming school year? Why or why not?
Sounds like a good idea. But I do not have enough data. I have taught at Strayer University. From my experience, any online school needs lots of support. Apart from missing friends and teachers, there are many other issues that come along with online school. These issues include the communication gap, and questions like how sports and arts will be handled. Students will spend around seven to eight hours per day in front of a computer screen doing schoolwork at home and then have to spend more time finishing assignments after this. This creates the feeling of a never-ending day consisting of seven hours of school, additional hours of homework. Again, keeping it as a choice is good. And I would leave it to students and parent’s decision. Surveys/feedback can give an idea how many students are interested in this plan and I believe Katy ISD is already doing that.
6. Is there anything else about your candidacy that Katy News readers should know?
I am a mother of a Katy ISD current student. I have worked as an intern in the governor’s office in Denver, Colorado. I have also worked with returning veterans battling invisible wounds of war. I have infinite patience, passion, and a commitment to serve.