DEL.ICIO.USNewcomers will fill Cobb school board seats
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
January may seem like freshman orientation for the majority of the Cobb County school board.
There are four seats on the Nov. 4 ballot for the seven-member board. The other three seats — held by John Abraham, Holli Cash and John Crooks — began their terms in Jan. 2007.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
• Election transition: Full coverage
• More on Georgia politics
Current board chair Betty Gray, in her fourth term, was beat in the July primary by an opponent in the Democratic Party — David Morgan.
Board veterans Johnny Johnson, Lindsey Tippins and Teresa Plenge announced earlier this year they would not seek re-election.
The new school board will have to get up to speed fast — looming cuts in state funding will force the board to look at ways to cut back. Among those hoping for seats: teachers, a former principal, a school bus driver and many concerned parents and residents.
Cobb historically is a conservative county, but changing demographics may offer Democrats the chance to win spots on the board.
Post 1: Northwest Cobb
Both candidates for Post 1 ran unopposed in the July primary.
Cobb native Lynnda Crowder-Eagle of Kennesaw has 36 years of experience in the education field. A former principal at Kincaid Elementary School in Marietta, Crowder-Eagle (R) said her knowledge of curriculum and school reform would be an asset to the board.
“I believe in being proactive by studying and understanding educational issues and then using common sense and sound judgment to get the results we need,” she said.
If elected, Democrat Tim Brew of Kennesaw knows he’ll likely have to give up his role as an assistant football coach for East Paulding High School. But he’s OK with that.
“I’ve always viewed myself as a teacher before a coach,” said Brew, who teaches world history. “I can always go back to football.”
Brew, who previously taught at Pope High School, said he is not a fan of block scheduling, where students have fewer classes per day for a longer period of time.
“You only have 90 days to cover the material,” Brew said.
Post 3: Southwest Cobb
Republican Steven Lahr of Powder Springs is new to politics, but not new to Cobb or its school system. His grown daughters attended Cobb schools and Lahr is a school bus driver.
As a parent, taxpayer and a bus driver, Lahr is concerned about the quality of education students are getting. Each day, Lahr picks up students in the Six Flags Over Georgia area and drives them across the county to “choice” schools, meaning the school in their district did not meet Adequate Yearly Progress.
“If our education system was better, these children wouldn’t have to be bused,” Lahr said. “It’s costing taxpayers money.”
Democrat David Morgan of Austell has been a teacher and serves as the state director for All Children Matter, an organization that promotes school choice. Morgan is married to state legislator Alisha Thomas Morgan, who is up for re-election this year. Morgan has not filed a campaign disclosure report, according to county election officials. Part of his campaign — less than a $1,000 — has been funded by his wife’s campaign.
Morgan did not respond to repeated requests for an interview.
Post 5: Northeast Cobb
Republican David Banks of Marietta would like to see all Cobb classrooms equipped with technology such as electronic white boards, overhead projectors and computers. And he can envision a virtual classroom, similar to the online classes some colleges offer.
“Some kids are so smart they just get bored with school,” said Banks, a 39-year Cobb resident. “If we had a virtual classroom on a subject they had an interest in, that not only benefits them but the whole community.”
Banks still had more than $11,000 in contributions — giving him the fattest wallet of any school board candidate — after reporting the nearly $10,000 he’d spent at the Sept. 30 deadline for reporting.
Democrat Linda J. Schwartz of Marietta knows she lives in what is typically a conservative district, but says she’s getting support across party lines.
“I welcome any and all input from everyone,” said Schwartz, who served as the Pope High band booster club president for two years. “Get the right person that’s going to work for your children. Be informed.”
Post 7: Central Cobb
Republican Ron Younker of Marietta beat opponent Alison Bartlett in the Sept. 16 special election, and now the two have to face off again for the four-year term. The special election — also held for the sales tax vote — was needed to fill Plenge’s spot after she resigned for health reasons.
Lifelong Cobb resident Younker graduated from Wheeler High School. Portable classrooms are one issue Younker hopes to continue to push if he keeps the seat.
Marietta resident Bartlett, a Democrat and a mother of four, formerly worked in construction and now teaches high school math in Douglasville. She said she understands the challenge diversity brings to her district, which includes Osborne High School.
“Being a teacher has given me a whole different insight,” Bartlett said.
Services »
