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Victoria school district representatives are in the dream business, Tami Keeling said to a crowd of about 60 people in the Victoria College Student Center.

“We’re about making dreams come true, whether it’s Harvard or process technician or carpenter,” Keeling said. “That’s what we’re about.”

Keeling was among the candidates who spoke at a citywide forum hosted by the League of Women Voters-Victoria. Keeling, the incumbent, is up against Charlie Jaynes for VISD board representative, District 5.

Debunking the myth that “there’s nothing here for me at school” is one way, she said, the district can proactively address truancy.

Keeping the students involved in anything from ballet to after-school organizations, Jaynes said, is another way to keep them in school.

“It doesn’t matter what you get the kids involved in, as long as you get them involved,” he said. “Pursue every avenue you can.”

During her two-minute opportunity to discuss her platform, Keeling vowed to spend the district’s $159 million bond wisely. While newer, smaller schools are exciting, she said, they won’t fix everything.

Teacher pay must come in to the mix.

“I am experienced, trained and dedicated,” Keeling said during her two minutes. “For the past three years I have been an impartial voice for the positive progress that has benefitted our students.”

Jaynes’ opening included his plans to improve discipline throughout the district. Everyone from the students to the administrators and even the parents, he said, must be held accountable for their actions.

Discipline must be applied uniformly, Jaynes said, to help both the teachers and students feel safer in class.

All too often, he said, teachers send disruptive students to the office only to have them return to the classroom five minutes later. After personally speaking with about 25 teachers, he said, many of them felt unsafe in their own classrooms.

While he admitted a zero tolerance policy was not the answer, he said a fair, non-discriminatory policy is necessary.

Keeling agreed with Jaynes against zero tolerance enforcement.

It’s best to evaluate situations on a case-by-case basis, she said, noting a Port Lavaca student who was recently expelled after accidentally bringing her father’s gun to school.

“The classic example is the boy scout with a knife,” she said. “I believe VISD should continue to allow us to use common sense.”

Allison Miles is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6511 or amiles@vicad.com.