School board candidates stress their dedication, involvement

At Tuesday night’s school board candidate forum, the candidates focused on their dedication to the community and how to improve student education in a difficult economic climate.

The League of Women Voters of Catawba Valley sponsored the forum at the Clinton Tabernacle AME Zion Church for the Hickory Public Schools and Newton-Conover City Schools board of education candidates.

Out of 10 candidates on two boards, only half attended. Newton-Conover candidates Jeanne Jarrett and Mark Murphy said they would be unable to attend, and Jim Stockner had a prior commitment said Susan Smith, assistant executive director of Exodus Homes, which helped coordinate the event. Hickory Public Schools’ candidate Larry Herman was unable to attend because of work, Smith said.

Margaret Pope

Margaret Pope said she was interested in the Ward 4 seat on Hickory’s board because she was concerned about quality education.

“I’m very disappointed to see African-Americans at the bottom of the totem pole. I want to do something to close that gap,” she said.

Pope also stressed the importance of cracking down on bullying and getting parents to be more involved in schools.

Charlotte Williams

Incumbent Charlotte Williams represents the at-large seat on Hickory’s board. As an employee of Lenoir-Rhyne University, she said she knows what students need to do in the lower grades to prepare for college. She said that has helped her on the board.

Williams admitted the budget is something difficult school system must deal with next year. And she said the board has also worked to put the right people in the right positions to make good decisions.

“Having new leadership in key places, like Ann Stalnaker at Hickory High and a new superintendent — he will help lead the district to new places,” Williams said. “He will work on the dropout rate, make sure each child gets what they need and has a track record of closing the achievement gap.”

Amy Monroe

Amy Monroe said she has tutored numerous children over the past six years and serves as a youth advisor to her church. She works to take care of those in her community.

“I’m running because I have an eagerness to serve,” she said. “I have a vested interest in the school system.”

The mother to three children, Monroe is running for Hickory’s Ward 6.

“I have a willingness to work with others and put the welfare of children first,” she said.

Rebecca Inglefield

Rebecca Inglefield is also running for Hickory’s Ward 6. She said the schools are the community, and she wanted safe and healthy schools.

“I want Hickory Public Schools’ Board of Education to be the change you wish to see in the world,” Inglefield said. “If we care so much about education, why is North Carolina still 48 or 49 (in the US) in education?”

She said she wanted to get more involved with early childhood education, why children are showing up to school not knowing their alphabet or how to use scissors. Inglefield said she also wanted to work with the Children’s Advocacy Center and Parenting Network, to determine where children have gone once they leave school, if parents say they will home-school their child.

Scott Loudermelt

The only candidate from the Newton-Conover City Schools that attended, Scott Loudermelt said he is running for the Conover seat again because there is positive momentum that he wants to build upon. He said test scores are up and discipline numbers have declined since 2003, when he first ran for election.

“Leadership and experience matter on a school board,” Loudermelt said. “A school board sets the tone for the school system.”

The father of two children, he said when he makes a decision as a board member, he always asks himself if it would be in the best interest of his own two girls.

“If I’m not willing to settle as a parent, others shouldn’t, either,” Loudermelt said.

Questions from the audience

Young People of Integrity member Tiffany Gray wanted to know how the candidates would help their constituents.

Most candidates agreed that it was important to attend meetings in their district, visit schools and talk to people in the community.

Loudermelt said the last part was critical.

“You can’t listen just in meetings,” he said. “If we don’t listen, we’re failing the people we’re representing.”

Another member of Young People of Integrity, Brandon Mitchell, wanted to know what the candidates would do to be able to afford a better education.

Monroe said she would go through the budget line by line, and look at what they system’s priorities would be, and talk to people about what is working in the system and what isn’t.

Pope suggested getting more volunteers involved in the schools, by tutoring students, or through other programs.

Inglefield said more volunteers are good, but it wouldn’t solve the ultimate problem.

“If a principal doesn’t have an assistant, he’s looking up phone numbers all day, and he’s not as effective,” she said.

She suggested strengthening the vocational program so students will be more ready upon leaving school, and supporting programs that deal with poverty.

Williams said getting the private sector involved would be one idea, as well as distributing the money more efficiently. She also said the community needed to talk to the legislature.

“We all have a voice,” she said. “Most politicians say education is a priority. If it is, they need to fund it that way. As a community, we need to band together for a change.”

Loudermelt had similar ideas. He said the system needed to not settle for mediocrity, and have caring, competent teachers in the system. He also suggested getting the legislators more involved in education.

“Contact your legislator. Every legislator we send to Raleigh is not education-friendly,” Loudermelt said. “I don’t think any of our representatives have ever been in our schools in my eight years (on board).”