A newcomer and an incumbent are vying for the Post 2 seat on the Cobb County school board in a Republican runoff election next week.
Susan Thayer and incumbent Tim Stultz hope to represent the area that includes Smyrna in the state's second-largest school system, and be part of a school board that will ultimately determine the district's new superintendent.
Although she’s never been on the school board, Thayer has over 30 years of educational experience, having worked as a teacher in Clayton County, a principal at Pebblebrook High School and in the central office in Cobb County. She also served as assistant superintendent of curriculum for Douglas County schools.
She was a counselor at Osborne High School, in Post 2, for eight years.
“I understand schools and how to get the help we need in our classrooms,” she said. “Every decision I make, I will have a knowledge of how it will affect the classroom.”
Thayer said she will focus on communication and plans to be visible and accessible in the community she represents.
She said if she’s elected she will also address needed facility improvements in Post 2. Some schools are overcrowded and old, she said, and if the budget allows, Thayer hopes to reduce class sizes.
Stultz’s work experience has been in the business sector, as an information-technology analyst and project manager. He has the advantage of already having served on the school board.
“We need to continue improving our low-performing schools,” said Stultz. “We also need to set the district up financially where we can do more with increasing our competitiveness with our employee salaries.”
Stultz said he already knows the strengths and challenges facing the Cobb County School District, and has worked with the school board to try to remedy its recent financial difficulties.
During his time on the board, he lobbied for using budget cuts and reserve cash to reduce deficits. He also voted against a sales tax that could have brought more money to Cobb schools, saying he didn’t want to take money out of taxpayers’ wallets to fund the government.
If elected for a second term, Stultz said he will continue to take the same “fiscally sound” approach.
The winner of the July 22 runoff will run against Democrat Kenya Pierce in November.
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