People have asked me why I want to run for the school board. The simple answer is that after working with LTISD students for the last two school years I have found that I really care about their education. While I think we have a good school district, I think there could be some improvements in the area of communication, math and science, and other areas.

I am an independent candidate.  I am not aligned with any other candidate or organization.

Who is Hamil Cooper?

I am a retired Electrical Engineer from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, California, and moved to Lakeway in 2006. While at JPL, I worked in the areas of computer applications, electronic and mechanical and technology. I received my BSEE in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University, and my MSEE in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Since retiring, my way of giving back to the community is being a one-on-one math and science tutor. Presently I have 13 students, 11 of whom attend schools in the LTISD. I am tutoring students in Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics. In addition, I am on the Science Review Committee and a senior judge for the Austin Energy Regional Science Fair. I have also been a judge at the Bee Cave Elementary school science fair for the past four years. Besides playing a little tennis and saxophone, my primary activity is focused on tutoring and the school system.

Why am I running for the school board?

Being a math and science tutor for the past two years, I have learned a lot about the school system from my interactions and conversations with my students and their parents. Additionally, I have talked with some of the math and science teachers, and some of the school principals via email and personally.  I have also had interactions with other school district personnel. Most of what our school system provides is done very well. However, I have found a few items that in my opinion could be improved upon.  

Need for improved two way communication with LTISD.

The school district does a fine job of letting the public know what the school district wants the public to know. I read many articles in the "Lake Travis View" about awards and activities, mostly athletic, that take place in the district. The primary web site for the school district is done very well but again, it tells the public what the district wants to be known. However, I believe the district could improve its two way communication.  At this time, there are no email addresses posted for the superintendent or the school board members. Why not? Parents sometime find it difficult to know who is the correct person to direct their questions to. Because of this it is sometimes difficult to receive timely responses. Now, and after the election, my email address will be available.

Need for a math and science coordinator 

As reported often on the nightly news, this country is losing jobs to other countries, namely China, India, and Japan. The reason is claimed to be the lack of new innovation in this country, innovation fueled by a strong math and science program in our schools.

 I think the school district would benefit from having a district wide math science coordinator to insure that high standards in these areas are created and maintained across all of the schools in the district. The coordinator should expand the science fairs that are required in the elementary schools into the middle and high school. Realizing that not all students want to be scientists, the fairs should be optional, but they should be available and encouraged.

Some of our "competitor" public schools such as Westlake, Westwood, and Bowie all have entries in the Austin Energy Regional Science Fair. In fact Vista Ridge high school had over 300 projects this year at the school of which 57 entries were entered in the fair.  I think it is embarrassing that Lake Travis High School has no entries.

Maybe we could find some money for a science room/lab where science could be explored to a greater extent than is done in the classroom. For more about science fairs, click the following link. Science Fairs

Need for improved teacher web pages

The school district provides web sites for all of the teachers in the district. The purpose of the sites should be to provide the students and parents with current and up to date information about what is being taught in their class. However, in general, this goal is not currently being met. Most of the pages, at least in the math and science area, are unorganized and contain out of date material if any material at all.

I have been actively working to solve this problem. Posting assignments and test dates should be easy, provided the teachers have a lesson plan and are following it. I have been invited to work with the district to help solve this problem, and hopefully the parents and students will see a change for the better in the upcoming school year.

Success in this area will be when a parent and student can access a teacher web site and easily determine the present homework assignment, where in the book the class is studying, easily download review sheets and notes, and know when the next test will occur and what material will be covered.

Finally

I realize that it is a challenge to manage a school district. It is important to have qualified people on the board with skills in finance, facilities, law, finding qualified teachers, dealing with the public, and more. I think the present school board is well represented in these areas and that my technical experience and desire to improve math and science education will make the board even stronger.

Crier