Why I want to continue to serve on the Sullivan County Board of Education?

God has blessed me so much throughout my seventy- five years of life. I am at a point in my life where I can serve my community, not needing to be focused on my career. Twelve years ago, God led me to offer my service to the students, families, and staff of our community by representing them on the Sullivan County School Board. He is continuing to lead me to use the knowledge, relationships, and experience I have gained through my 38-year involvement with Bristol and Kingsport City Schools and the twelve years as a member of the Sullivan County Board of Education. Much progress has been made towards the three main goals that I outlined in the forum in June 2012; however, more work needs to be done to fully accomplish these goals.

  

Goals/priorities for 2024-2028

1.      DETERMINED to keep Sullivan County students as our greatest natural resources by providing updated facilities with expanded curricula especially the enhanced CTE Programs.

2.      EXPERIENCED: Please prayerfully consider me as your District 5 Board member. I ask that you compare my education, experience, leadership positions and accomplishments as a Board Member with the other candidates. 

3.      COMMITTED to approving a budget that ensures Sullivan County teachers and support staff are paid a salary comparable to Kingsport and Bristol and fighting for more local control of our educational processes including curriculum and testing.  

Background

·         Currently serving as District 5 Board member for Sullivan County (2012-2024)

·         Served as Chairman for three years (2020-2023)

·         Served as Vice Chairman for four years (2016-2020)

·         Level 4 Board Member

·         Served as member-at-large for Tennessee School Board Association for 2023

·         Sullivan County resident since 1980

·         Christian believer and member of Indian Springs Baptist Church for 36 years

·         Sunday School teacher at Indian Springs Baptist Church

·         Served three years on State Resolutions Committee for Tennessee Baptist Association (2013-2015)

·         Scott County Virginia native-graduate of Rye Cove High school

·         Education: Bachelors, Masters and Master’s plus 45 from ETSU

·         Married for 51 years to Ann Jones (retired Sullivan County teacher)

·         Occupation: Retired from Bristol City Schools in 2009

·         Assistant Director of Schools, Bristol, TN (1995-2009)

·         Principal, Tennessee High School, Bristol, TN (1991-1995)

·         Assistant Principal, Tennessee High School, Bristol, TN (1985-1991)

·         Assistant Principal, Vance Middle School Principal, Bristol, TN (1979-1985)

·         Director of Alternative School, Tennessee High School (1978-1979)

·         Math teacher, Tennessee High School, Bristol, TN (1976-1978)

·         Director of Admissions, Steed College, Johnson City, TN (1975-1976)

·         Math teacher at John Sevier Middle School, Kingsport, TN (1971-1975)

·         One granddaughter attends West Ridge High School

·         One granddaughter is a 2023 graduate of West Ridge High School and attends East Tennessee State University

Major Accomplishments 2012-2024

·        Resources officers at all school

·        Assistant principals at most elementary schools

·        New West Ridge High School opened in August 2021

·        New Sullivan East Middle School opened in 2020.

·        Improved security entrances at all schools

·        Updated fire alarm systems in all schools

·        Two new concession buildings at Ketron

·        Partial new roof at Ketron Elementary

·        Partial new roof at Emmett Elementary

·        Improved athletic facilities at East High School including turf on football, baseball and softball fields.

·        New roof at East High School including Vocational Building

·        New tennis courts at East High School

·        New greenhouse at East High School

·        New greenhouse at West Ridge High School

·        West Ridge Multi-Purpose Center

·        New roof at Indian Springs Elementary.

·        New HVAC system at Indian Springs Elementary

·        Updated track at Central Middle School

·        Updated tennis courts at Central Middle School

·        Updated tennis courts in progress at Sullivan Heights Middle

·        New HVAC system currently being installed at Central Middle School

·        Updated HVAC at Sullivan Heights Middle School

·        New HVAC at Rock Springs Elementary

·        New roof at Mary Hughes Elementary

·        New roof at Miller Perry

·        New roof at Bluff City Elementary

·        New HVAC at Bluff City Elementary

·        Increased fund balance

·        Teacher salary equalization pay plan was implemented.

·        New improved curricula

·        Sold Colonial Heights Middle School for $2.3 million

·        Sold Blountville Campus for $637,500

Views on partisan School Board Elections

 My decision as a life-long Republican to run as an Independent in the upcoming August 1, 2024 General election is based on my beliefs about partisan politics.

• Boards of Education are charged with governing the school district so that all students receive the best educational opportunities in order to graduate prepared to enter a postsecondary institution or the workforce.

• Teachers and administrators are expected to be non-partisan in the classroom, and no less should be expected of our School Board members.

• Prior to November 2021, all elections for school board members were required to be conducted on a nonpartisan basis, and no person seeking a position on a board could campaign as the nominee or representative of any political party.

• Tennessee Code Annotated 49-2-201, as revised in 2021, now allows school board elections to be conducted on a partisan or non-partisan basis.

• The new legislation allows county parties to declare whether a race will become partisan.

• This decision in Sullivan County was made by the political parties, not the citizens.

• Most School Board business such as setting the budget, adopting policy, hiring a Director of Schools, and most remaining duties of the School Board are independent of partisanship.

• School Board members, in order to faithfully carry out their duties, should be free from the influence of political parties and enabled to act as they believe is best for the students, staff, and families of the schools they represent.

• Tennessee voters often decide which primary to participate in based on campaign developments.

• The partisan balance in Tennessee means many local elections are decided in the primary, with the large cities leaning heavily Democratic and most other areas leaning heavily Republican.

• It is my belief that the General Election allows all registered voters to participate in the process. My name will appear on the August 1, 2024 ballot but did not appear on the Primary ballot on March 5, 2024.