The Citizen posed several questions to candidates for the two posts being decided for the Fayette County Board of Education. The questions are as follows:

1. How often do you think redistricting should occur in order to avoid overcrowding at schools and the overuse of trailers? Describe your plan.

2. What is your solution for handling illegal students who attend Fayette County schools but do not live in district?

3. What’s your opinion of the school system’s current bus transportation plan?

4. When should the school year start and end?

5. Overall, is student discipline a problem in Fayette schools? Explain.

6. How will Fayette schools be improved by your election?

The answers given by the candidates are keyed to the question numbers above.

Frank Oakley - Board of Education Post 4

1. I believe that redistricting should take place as needed; however, for planning purposes it should be part of the county school board’s strategic plan, produced by the superintendent and his staff. This would require redistricting to be looked at every eight to 10 years. This time-frame would allow the population density and school construction efforts to develop along the same time-frame.

2. I would establish a screening process for all new enrollees, in order to weed out possible violators. Then establish a program that would verify currently enrolled students. If a student is determined to be in violation of the enrollment law, the student would be given a one-week notice and relieved at the end of that week. The parents or responsible person would be brought up on charges under current state law for the violation.

3. I fully believe that if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. It may not be the most economical solution but if most of the taxpaying public involved agree with that solution, then we should work with it until we can work out a better bus transportation plan.

4. The school year should start in August and end as currently planned. This schedule allows student and parent/family time together as well it coincides with the opening of institutions of higher education in the Southeast. Families need time together and the students need a break.

5. If we compare Fayette County schools with other schools in the metro Atlanta area we do not have a student discipline problem. Our greatest discipline problem is student tardiness at the elementary school level and that often rests with the parents. At other level we have had less than 200 incidents out of a student population of more than 23,000. Fayette County school discipline problems are minimum. The system rates an “A.”

6. I am a skilled problem solver who believes in people. I would bring more than 30 years of experience with the Department of Defense and private industry to the position. A key part of my success has been personal integrity, honor. I am a skilled problem-solver who gets the best out of people I work with and support. I will give my time, energy, and knowledge developed over a lifetime of public service to the young people and citizens of Fayette County.

Editor’s note: Frank Oakley submitted only answers to questions posed to Fayette County Board of Education candidates. He did not supply an essay.

Bob Todd - Board of Education Post 4

Editor’s note: Post 4 candidate Bob Todd submitted neither answers to the forum questions nor an essay.

Faith Hardnett - Board of Education Post 4

1. For the sake of children and parents, redistricting should take place as a last resort or when a new school is built.

2. My solution to the illegal student issue is to impose a $3,000 fine with the possibility of a year in jail!

3. The transportation plan is designed to treat all children with dignity and respect. Transportation abides by state laws when it comes to student pick-ups and other state mandated rules. This department bends over backwards to accommodate all students.

4. I would poll parents with school-age children in order to answer this. Parents deserve input.

5. Discipline is not an overall problem in Fayette County Schools compared to surrounding counties.

6. I bring many years of experience as a teacher, a counselor, an assistant principal, a principal and the director of pupil services. I have 35 years of hard work and dedication invested in this school system. I bring broad educational knowledge toward school dynamics, but more importantly, I bring compassion, love and understanding to the children, the parents and employees of this community.

Lee Wright - Board of Education Post 4

Editor’s note: Post 5 candidate Lee Wright submitted only an essay this week. He did not supply answers to questions posed to candidates.

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