Dade Phelan*

Voting records currently not available. Please check back later.

Survey Responses

DID NOT RESPOND TO THE 2024 CANDIDATE SURVEY.

Not applicable for 2022; the candidate was unopposed.

Did not respond to the 2018 ATPE Candidate Survey. 

Below are the candidate's responses to the 2014 ATPE Candidate Survey:

1. Is there a need to increase funding to meet the needs of our student population? If so, how would you recommend securing more revenue for public education?

As the State continues its exponential growth, we must also provide the necessary funds to address this ever-increasing demand put upon our education system. Should there be additional and available revenue available this biennium, I would support an increase in educational funding. I want these funds to be dedicated to the classroom. I do not support increasing taxes or creating any new taxes. The mid and small sized school districts in Southeast Texas would also benefit from the Legislature addressing the various funding formulas. The disparity in revenue that currently exists across the State is a direct result of these convoluted formulas.

 

2. Regardless of the level of funding, do you believe that Texas public education dollars are being spent in an appropriate manner, or should the funds be reallocated and spent in different ways?

With the current financial condition of the Beaumont Independent School District, it is obvious not all schools districts spend their resources in an appropriate manner. However, I feel BISD is the exception to the rule. Most districts want what is best for the child and do not have the luxury of misappropriating funds.

 

3. Would you vote to spend public tax dollars on a voucher, tax credit or scholarship that allows students to attend non-public schools in grades K–12? Why or why not?

I have not seen a voucher program I would support. The plan would have to ensure accountability, transparency and accessibility. This stance is one of the many reasons I have earned the support and endorsement of Texas Parent PAC, a pro-public education organization that advocates for adequate and equitable funding of public schools.

 

4. Do you believe the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) should be maintained as a traditional defined benefit pension plan for all future, current and retired educators, or would you vote to convert TRS to a defined contribution plan that is more like a 401(k), in which future benefits are not guaranteed? Why?

The TRS fund has performed well. There is no need to convert it to a 401(K) type for current and retired educators. My former boss, Senator Tommy Williams, was instrumental in ensuring TRS was fiscally sound this past legislative session with a direct expenditure of $330 million dollars. The State also increased its level of participation from 6.4% to 6.8%. Retired teaches can count on the same level of support from me as we move onto the next issue facing retired teachers - TRS Care.

 

5. Local decisions on whether to continue a teacher's employment and how much to pay each teacher are often based on evaluations. To what extent, if any, should a teacher's evaluation be based on his students' scores on state standardized tests? If you believe student test scores should factor into a teacher's evaluation, how would you recommend evaluating teachers in grades or subjects for which there are no state standardized tests?

I do not believe basing compensation on a standardized test is good public policy. I hear too often about the problems with the STAAR test to trust its ability to evaluate a student much less the teacher.

 

6. Would you vote to maintain a hard cap on the number of students per class, or should school administrators be given more flexibility to increase class sizes? (Currently, the law imposes a cap of 22:1 in grades K–4 but allows schools to obtain a waiver, a step many of them routinely take.)

I support local control and an administrator's ability to request the waiver. This is especially important in districts experiencing rapid growth.

 

7. If a public school in your district failed to meet state accountability standards for two or more consecutive years, would you support allowing a private entity to take over the management of that school, essentially converting it to a charter school?

No.

 

8. Do you believe charter schools in Texas have been largely successful? Should their presence be expanded? Why or why not?

There have been great successes and great failures. I would support the expansion provided the State is diligent in monitoring their progress. Charters were supposed to be an incubator for innovation and new ideas in education. The achievements would be then be implemented in the public system. This has not occurred with regularity and that needs to be addressed.