4 districts face runoff for school board spots

Four DeKalb County school board races still need to be decided. Voters get another say Tuesday.

Winners in the runoff will remake the school board; when they take office next year, more than half the nine-member board will have two or fewer years of experience.

DISTRICT 2

Don E. McChesney

Age: 61

Job: Retired U.S. history teacher (Atlanta, DeKalb County and Gwinnett County schools)

Reason for running: Asked by neighbors around Sagamore Hills to put his 34 years of teaching experience to use. DeKalb schools graduate. Wants to increase instructional time for students and lessen bureaucracy for teachers and administrators. Concerned about zoning issues and the effect on school enrollment.

Ella Smith

Age: 52

Job: Special education teacher, Fulton County

Reason for running: More than 25 years of teaching experience. Platform includes educating every child the best way possible, school safety, quality teachers and principals and efficient use of money.

DISTRICT 4

Shayna M. Steinfeld

Age: 44

Job: Bankruptcy lawyer

Reason for running: Has three children in DeKalb schools; said she comes at issues “as a mom.” Believes long-term look at budget issues is critical. Is concerned about having stronger policies about conflicts of interest. Wants to improve the system’s 75 percent graduation rate and make neighborhood schools more academically appealing.

H. Paul Womack Jr.

Age: 75

Job: Business owner and executive

Reason for running: Ownership and management experience with small and international companies; includes banking and financial institutions. Served on the DeKalb board from 1981 to 1992. Believes the board needs more cohesiveness. Wants focus on highly qualified teachers and principals to boost academic programs.

DISTRICT 8

Pamela M. Buncum

Age: 50

Job: Accountant

Reason for running: Moved to DeKalb in 2003; eldest son graduated from Chamblee High School. Wants to improve academic achievement, but overriding concern is financial management. Questioned how the system plans to cut more than $20 million from its budget, including canceling pay increases due in January.

Pamela Speaks

Age: 58

Job: Retired teacher and administrator (DeKalb schools)

Reason for running: Has 32 years of experience in education. Retired as DeKalb’s Title I director, overseeing a federally funded program that serves schools with a higher-than-average number of low-income families. Believes her experience and knowledge about the system will help her hit the ground running.

DISTRICT 9

Ernest Brown

Age: 48

Job: Software sales support director

Reason for running: Married to a teacher and active in DeKalb school issues for years, including membership on the system’s Blue Ribbon Task Force that recommended systemwide changes to improve schools. Parent of four DeKalb students. Said decisions must revolve around student achievement, classrooms must be protected from budget cuts and students prepared for a “21st-century workplace.”

Eugene P. “Gene” Walker

Age: 72

Job: Retired; current chairman of the county’s development authority

Reason for running: Believes his “range of experience [and] passion for service” can help. Began his long career as a teacher. Has been a four-term state senator, state juvenile justice commissioner, member of state board of pardons and paroles, had administrative jobs with DeKalb College and DeKalb Technical Institute and, in the early 1990s, was an administrator with the DeKalb school system.