Know Your Board of Ed Candidates, Election Day is Tomorrow!
Decatur Metro | November 4, 2013There’s only one contested race in Decatur this year: Decatur Board of Education District 1 Post A.
Everyone else up for election is running unopposed.
So, before you cast your electronic ballots on the morrow, check out Mark Arnold and Lewis Jones’ webpages. And on a more topical front, you can also check out this recent post on Decaturish, where the candidates are asked their position on the K-3 rezoning process currently underway.
Interested in checking out the unopposed candidates webpages? I know you are. Well, here are those links as well.
Decatur City Commission
- Fred Boykin
- Patti Garrett
Decatur Board of Education
- Annie Caiola
Latest from Decaturish
Here are the answers both candidates for the District 1, Post A seat gave to the questions posed by the League of Women Voters:
http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/ajc13/race-detail.do?id=12505000
As I mentioned in the FFAF thread, the best way to become informed is to talk to both candidates and to watch the video of the forum. But as everyone in my neighborhood knows, I’ve become a big supporter of Lewis Jones.
Just a few weeks ago, I didn’t know either candidate, but after speaking at length with both of them, and attending the candidate forum, I became convinced that Lewis is the best choice for our school system.
I hope it’s ok to post a few reasons why I’m supporting Lewis in this race.
Lewis understands the importance of community engagement. In his role as the Chair of the Renfroe School Leadership Team, Lewis initiated and led roundtable discussions of parents and teachers to identify priorities for improvement. In his practice, he has led similar roundtable discussions for large public projects. Lewis is known as the kind of person who can build bridges and help groups find common ground.
He understands the tools available in public financing. He has worked with cities and counties to interpret long-term population and needs projections of public projects with budgets exceeding $100 million. As Decatur grows, this is precisely the experience needed to meet the challenges facing the school board today.
He understands that the primary responsibility of the board is to set policies focused on student achievement. As the parent of five children and the Chair of the Renfroe School Leadership Team, Lewis has a history of involvement in our schools. He’s known as a careful and thoughtful decision-maker who is committed to making our schools work for everybody.
I would be happy to talk to anyone individually if you have questions. My email is my name at gmail.
Thanks, Kate.
And the same points can be said of Mark Arnold. Understands the importance of community engagement (SLT, Math Academy, professional career). Understands the tools of public finance (25 years experience, worked with City of Nashville). Understands the primary responsibility of the board is to set policies on student achievement (while balancing the interests of the entire community).
Two good people running. We’re fortunate to have the dialogue and choice.
Isn’t there also an uncontested south side incumbent candidate too? I thought every School Board election had a south side position and a north side position on the ballot. In addition, every other election has an at large position on the ballot. So this year there should be a north side position (Arnold vs. Jones), an evidently uncontested south side position (Seals? Rhame?), and an uncontested at large position (Caiola).
Wondering where to vote? Go to: mvp.sos.state.ga.us. Remember to click on the extra click to MUNICIPAL elections (vs. county and state elections).
VOTE! No vote, no complaining! Elections in Decatur are often decided by just a handful of votes. Candidates who win by a little are just as elected as candidates who win by a lot! Even candidates who are unopposed need your vote–shows that they have real support, not just lack of opposition. And if you vote, you can go in good conscience to the election parties which are often held in nice places.
It’s interesting that Lewis Jones has school age kids campaigning for him on street corners during school hours. Hmmmmm…
no school today
It’s a teacher work day, silly. NO SCHOOL TODAY. The Jones tribe are not the type of students to skip school!
+1
” NO SCHOOL TODAY. The Jones tribe are not the type of students to skip school”
Kate and Mickey, thanks for that exchange. It’s a nice antidote to the type of post Tessa made — which seems more in keeping with politics elsewhere in the state and nation.
As a non COD (call me a FOD, or friend of Decatur), I am so envious of the choice you have among clearly qualified candidates. So please, people: Go vote. You don’t know how lucky you are.
Did anyone actually campaign with an opinion or position on how the Superintendent is doing (or not)? Based on what I read here a few days ago (rigging committees for desired outcomes,) maybe it’s time for some fresh blood in that position. (If that’s true of course)
I think, but am not positive, that it is understood that the Superintendent will be retiring soon. I believe, but cannot remember, that the video of the candidate forum includes a question about selecting a new Superintendent. IMHO, it will be important for the Board to select someone who has already demonstrated some of the skills and characteristics that fit with a system charter, school leadership teams, IB, Expeditionary Learning, K-12 Spanish, and other special characteristics of our system. Otherwise, we may have some faltering in our progress while a new superintendent figures it out or is shown to be a bad fit. Demonstrated proof is more important than talk.
You are incredibly plugged in around these parts!
I retract my comment. Was not aware of the teacher workday. My apologies.