Candidates for Cobb County's school board are seeking to bring better fiscal management and higher academic standards to the state's second largest school district.
This summer, the district cut $10 million from its budget by increasing class sizes, chopping school days from the calendar and eliminating 350 teaching positions along with several programs.
That concerns parent Kelshia Keys whose child lost after-school transportation to the local Boys & Girls Club as part of the budget cuts.
"I think the people who currently hold seats don't really relate to their constituents and what matters to them," Keys said. "In that matter, I'll be looking more at getting different people in."
The election on July 31 will decide who will fill seats in District 3 and 5, which are both single-party races.
Whoever wins the primary in District 7 will run against incumbent Alison Bartlett in the November election.
Only one candidate is running to replace District 1 board member Lynnda Eagle, who isn't running for re-election.
District 1 (Kennesaw, Marietta, Acworth)
Republican Randy Scamihorn, 63 is a retired school administrator. The fiscal conservative said he wants to help the school manage the budget. "We've got to keep looking for things we can do without," he said.
District 3 (Austell, Mableton, Powder Springs)
Democrat Bobby Allen, a public school teacher and former officer in the Army Corps of Engineers, has a wife and three children in the district. He wants to boost the area's academics. "This area is in need of improvement and I can no longer continue to stand by as my child and other children in this post suffer academically," he said. "These students deserve so much more."
Democrat Karyn Harrison, 55, a former broadcaster with one daughter, currently serves as vice president of south Cobb County's PTA. She said she wants to recruit more highly qualified teachers into south Cobb schools. "I want to give these kids the resources they need to go out into the world and make a difference," she said.
Incumbent David Morgan, 40, has two children who attend private school. The former teacher and principal currently works for the American Federation of Children, a local political action committee. He said he wants to continue what he began during his first four years, including working to close the achievement gap. "I have a relentless hunger for education and making sure we're enacting the right type of policies that are student-centered," he said.
District 5 (Marietta)
David Banks, 73, has owned a computer company for the past 25 years. He's married with three children. He said he wants to make Cobb County a nationally recognized school system by improving the gifted, arts and advanced placement programs. "I want to give every opportunity to students that's possibly available," he said.
Lisa Hanson, a 50-year-old married mother of two, is a former sales and marketing executive. She most recently worked as a local volunteer and substitute teacher. She wants to work to keep qualified teachers in the district and better manage the district's budget. "I believe I'll be a conservative leader but a fresh voice for the constituents in our post," she said.
Stephanie Henry, 46 and married with five children, worked in retail management before becoming a local volunteer and activist. She wants to work to improve curriculum and give teachers more freedom in the classroom. "Basically, I'd like to see us get a new attitude with our education," she said.
District 7 (Marietta, Powder Springs)
Incumbent Democrat Alison Bartlett, 50, is married with four children. She worked as a Cobb County math teacher before being elected to the board. She said she wants to fight for teachers' needs in the classroom. "We need to continue being cost effective and have cuts come out of upper management so we can provide a quality education for our children," she said.
Larry Darnell, married with two children, is a retired Cobb County schools hearing-impaired diagnostician. He works as a project manager for a local contractor. He said he wants to assist under-performing schools, eliminate unnecessary spending and enhance the relationship between the board of education and the state legislators.
Heather Ryan, 46, is married with two children and helps run a family-owned business. She wants to keep the district locally controlled. "I think it's time to get back to our children," Ryan said. "I'm not fake. I'm going to tell you how it is. There's no color-coding or pretending with me."
Brad Wheeler, 57 and a retired school administrator, wants to regain the public's trust in school boards and work on spending on only what is essential. "I want to work to bring everybody together so that we're all working toward the same goal," he said.
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