School Board hopefuls host town forum - : Local Gordon County Board of Education Posted: Monday, May 12, 2014 12:00 pm E.K. West Community Correspondent Community members heard from three Gordon County Board of Education candidates Tuesday at the Calhoun Depot Town Hall meeting. Post one candidate Dene Land, and Post seven candidates Roderick “Rod” Brehm and Ricky E. Smith addressed local board issues and answered questions submitted by the public. Local Attorney Jessie Vaughn moderated the meeting and Wes Roland kept time for responses. The following questions and answers are a sampling of the questions put to all three candidates attending. Dene Land introduced himself as having a long history with the Tolbert and Red Bud School communities. “I have 26 years experience as a principal of two Gordon County Schools. The past few years I’ve become outspoken. We need to get busy dealing with the problems our school system has in communication, morale issues, getting folks involved with the planning process. We need leadership,” Land said. Rod Brehm opened his remarks stating that he was proud to have grown up in the school system and to have a mother who was a dedicated life long teacher in the system. He listed his goals like “better communication with the public, return public office to the people,” and “give people a voice in advance.” “There is a lack of communication from top to bottom in this school system and I want to have a board of education that is open,” Brehm said. Ricky E. Smith began by saying he is a life long resident of Gordon County and stated his concerns with the upkeep of the Gordon Central Track, saying, “School leaders always want to blame the State. I don’t have the answers, but someone needs to be accountable.” Smith said. Dene Land was first to answer the opening questions, “Do you believe there is a low morale issue in the Gordon County School System? If so, how do you define that, and what steps would you take as a board member to improve morale?” “Yes I do,” replied Land. “I’ve talked with a number of employees in the system and what I’m hearing is that there is a lack of involvement in planning. We need some type of formal assessment to address morale in the schools. The superintendent has recognized that there is a problem with low morale, but we still need an assessment. It wouldn’t take too long to do the assessment and I’m sure it wouldn’t take too long to resolve it,” Land said. Opposing candidates Crystal Beatenbo and Charlie Walraven did not attend. Rod Brehm was first to respond to the questions regarding the realignment of the Sonoraville and Red Bud schools and the redistribution of students. “There seems to be an unwillingness to consider the issue of County wide redistricting,” read Vaughn, “Would you consider it and if so how would you include the public?” “I believe that there would not have been such a stir if it had been brought to the public’s attention,” answered Brehm. “The whole thing was done with poor planning. You should investigate where your numbers are at before redistributing. I’m all for redistricting but to me it all comes back down to communication between the superintendent and the board.” “I don’t know what the answer is,” replied Ricky E. Smith. “It doesn’t seem right to have to go to school eight miles down the road when you live a mile from a school. The board ought to be involved in that process,” Smith said. Opponent Maurice Jones did not attend. Land, Brehm and Smith had the following comments to the question of schools struggling with parent involvement. Vaughn asked, “What would you do as a board member to get the public and parents more engaged?” “It is an issue of public apathy,” said Land. “When I spoke up about an issue my speaking up was not welcome. Board members should welcome that; you don’t shut it down. We’ve just got to overcome that,” Land said. “We can do everything there is to do and what if they still don’t get involved? You don’t shut down. You keep going. Parental involvement is like gravy. We need to overcome apathy and not let the lack of parent involvement turn into an excuse; we still have kids to educate,” said Land. Brehm answered that, as a parent, he knows how hard it is to do everything you need to do, but that as a community we can come together. “Look at Sonoraville,” Brehm said. “It has flourished as a community supported school. If parents don’t feel included in the decision-making process they shut down. We need to keep doing things that involve parents and the community in the education of our children,” he said. Smith said he often feels like parents only get involved because they are mad about the situation. “A parent needs to be involved with their children’s education,” Smith said. In their closing remarks Brehm, Smith and Land agreed that there are issues that need to be addressed by the Gordon County Board of Education. “I should be your eyes and ears on that board. I want to make changes that are good and positive and encourage community involvement,” said Brehm. “We all do a good job. I don’t have an answer for everything, but it is working with the others six people on the board that matters. One person can’t do a lot, but a board can,” Smith said. “We’ve got some problems in the Gordon County School System and I feel a sense of urgency about them,” said Land. “If I’m on the board you’ll get a response. You’ll be treated like we want you there. I’m there to represent you.” Land added that Gordon County School System’s additional furlough days and attendance zones are part of why the system cannot compete with others. “We have got to get serious about our school system.” Discuss Print Posted in Local on Monday, May 12, 2014 12:00 pm.
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