With the school board elections Tuesday, The Gaffney Ledger asked all school board candidates facing opposition to answer six questions. The questions were written by Ledger staff writer Scott Powell to focus on some key issues the Cherokee County School Board is expected to face in the coming year.

Here are the questions and their responses.

Question 1: The Cherokee County School District cut $6 million in expenses to balance the school budget this year. Next year’s budget shortfall is projected to approach $10 million.

What areas of the school budget can be further cut? Do you think the state needs to provide more money for the education system in South Carolina in order to provide a quality education?

Question 2 - Superintendent Dr. Bill James retired from the Cherokee County School District in early March after nine years. With the district set to hire a new school superintendent, do you think the change in school leadership will be a positive in helping the school district move forward?

Question 3: What qualifications and experience do you think is needed for the school district to get a good superintendent for Cherokee County? Do you think the next superintendent should come from inside or outside the school district?

Question 4: County schools face the challenge of achieving at high levels on test scores to meet state and federal accountability requirements. Do you think the school district has been effective in meeting those requirements? What do you think needs to be done in the school district to improve student achievement?

Question 5: What is your education background? What experience, skills, and knowledge do you have which would make you an asset on the school board?

Question 6: The Cherokee County School District has started a preliminary investigative audit to look at how money has been spent in recent years. There is often a perception in the public that candidates run for the school board with a personal agenda. Do you think it’s wrong for the school district to do personal business with the family members, friends and relatives of district employees and board members? What are your thoughts on what can be done to address this issue?

District 1

Incumbent Mike Ellis

1. State funding to the Cherokee County School District is at the same level as the 1995 budget. The District made drastic cuts in the amount of approximately $6 million to make up for the short fall. With projected budget cuts for the next fiscal year the District must evaluate the programs we have and mandate a quality educational program with the limited funding we have.

2. Dr. Bill James retired from the Cherokee County School District after what I consider nine successful years of service. During his tenure our schools improved in their scores with the most recent report of eleven schools reaching or exceeding their AYP scores. The goal of the school board in the hiring of the next Superintendent should be to hire the most qualified candidate for the job, someone that has an aspiration to improve the quality of life in our communities and the quality of education for our chil- dren. The retiring of Dr. James is regretful but we must accept the facts and move forward in a positive manner with our children’s education at heart.

3. School board policy governs the requirements of the School Superintendent. The candidate must have a Superintendents Certificate and have earned a Doctorate degree. Other qualifications include good board and community relations and experience in the educational system. Whether the next superintendent comes from within or outside the county is irrelevant, the most important issue is that they are qualified to lead our children in achieving a quality education.

4. Achieving high levels on test scores to meet state and federal accountability requirements is one of the greatest challenges we face in South Carolina. Cherokee County School District has made monumental advances in this challenge of accountability requirements. We need to continue this advancement with increasing speeds as the requirement levels increase annually. Last year no school district in the state achieved the AYP standard. Our efforts to meet those requirements have been effective and with continued attempt and hard work we can meet this challenge.

5. I am a graduate of Gaffney High School. I have served this community as a magistrate, Business manager and at present employed by Broad River Electric Cooperative in the Engineering Department. My experience with our local delegation and the general public, along with specialized training courses that I attended in the past, are valuable tools that assist me in making the decisions that require a great deal of research, evaluation and moral discernment.

6. School Board members should preclude themselves from making decisions to obtain economic interest for himself, a member of his immediate family, an individual with whom he is associated, or a business with which he is associated as stated in the Rule of Conduct. The contracting of services for the district should be handled by an unbiased district employee and presented to the board for approval. This is a moral discernment for board members to refrain from the use of family, relative and close friends when requesting services for the district and is viewed by the public to be unethical and unfair to outside parties because of the knowledge a board member is privileged to prior to bid opening.

District 1

Challenger Michael Nix

1. Without having detailed information about the District’s current spending and monthly budgeting, it is hard to go into detail on exactly how much more fat can be trimmed. With that however, accountability with checks and balances need to be in place to ensure wasted spending does not occur. Suggestion programs on cost savings are common at most if not all large cap businesses. Sometimes the smallest of ideas can save the most money.

A quality education system does not start in school; it starts in the child’s home. Once that fire is burning inside each and every child, the public education system builds on the foundation the parents have started. The parents then continue to build the child throughout their school career to ensure that he/she becomes a productive and highly educated member of our great nation. When the funds are provided by the state, the tools are then gathered to ensure we are prepared as a team to build these children. Teachers, books, transportation, and facilities are just a few of the pieces needed to continue the growth with our children’s future.

2. Change is good! Change is what’s required to start new ideas or ways of doing business. Lean initiatives in large manufacturing industries were forced to change over the past six to eight years just to stay competitive. Either change your wasteful ways of doing business or your business will become the prey the business that does change. A change in leadership with someone who understands this and accepts the fact every penny being spent from the taxpayer’s pocket should always be accounted for will create this. It will ensure your money as a citizen does not go to waste without your knowledge.

3. First the superintendent is required to meet the current accreditation standards set by the South Carolina Department of Education. Once this has been met, he/she is required to meet all the criteria that have been set by your School Board Trustees which is contained within the School Board Policy Manual. When these areas have been met, that is when other additional qualifications and experience will begin to separate all the candidates for superintendent. In my opinion the superintendent should put education first and foremost for our children. They should be willing and able to become a part of the community, open to ideas from their teachers and administrators without any negative recourse, and balance a budget while keeping the focus on education.

It should not matter where the next superintendent comes from as long as they are highly capable and qualified to perform the job they have applied for. With a very detailed interview process, background check, review of references, there should be no doubt when selected they are capable of leading Cherokee county schools.

4. The county schools are on the right track and know what needs to be accomplished in order to meet the state and federal accountability requirements. A lot of the problems that occur this day and time, a lot of homes are depending on the teachers and administration to be 100 percent accountable for their children’s education at the end of the school day. However when it comes down to it, an emphasis on parent involvement in the education of their child is not taking place. I know in the past programs have been established to help influence parent involvement, but until this becomes perpetual it could remain an issue.

We could start by reducing the number of students per teacher. By doing this, it will allow more face time between the teacher and student to focus on the areas where that child is having problems. This would also reduce the amount of time others have to wait in order to continue with the day’s lessons.

5. I have a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration/Management. I am a Flight Engineer on both helicopters and airplanes. I am also certified by the Federal Aviation Administration as an Airframes and Power Plant Technician. I am a graduate of several military leadership schools to include the United States Marine Corps Staff Non-Commissioned Officers course in Quantico, Va and Non- Commissioned Officer Course through the United States Air Force.

I have the proven ability to work in unison with diverse team members to solve problems and meet complex goals and objectives. Organized, highly motivated, and detailed when it comes to any issue in regards to the task at hand. With success in directing complex problems from its mental concept to a fully operational status, it has been proven time and time again about my dedication to meet and exceed all expectations. I oversee multimillion dollar budgets on some of the largest engineering projects within my department. Being fair and nonbias, it is my belief you must be certified where required for any job.

6. When it comes to doing anything unethical, it’s wrong. State and Federal laws are in place to ensure that when it comes to doing business in such a fashion, nepotism does not take place. Our school district should and may have a policy that refers to just this, and should be adhered to. If it does not, one should be put in place.

District 1

Challenger Alex Copeland

1. There are many ways to cut the school budget by cutting salaries, changing transportation, or cutting back on the amount given to extracurricular activities. A new way to look at cutting back the budget would be to look into an estimate on how much it would be to install a Rinnai Heating System. We could install it in one school to see how much it saved in one year. If it is successful we could install it in all the schools. Possibly, we could get a state grant for the first installation.

2. A challenge in new school leadership will be a positive influence in helping the school district move forward. I feel that a new superintendent will come in with new ideas and a high level of excitement to help push us through tough times.

3. I would like to be able to get a superintendent from within our school district. I also realize, in the best interest of our children, we should not overlook applicants from other areas that are extremely well qualified. We should choose a superintendent with our schools best interest in mind.

4. I think Cherokee County can achieve high levels of education. It is the teachers that hold the greatest interaction with the students and I think teachers should be held accountable for their students. If students consistently have issues and low grades with a teacher, he/she should be reevaluated. He/she should not feel a sense of comfort, but should know that if needed they could be replaced.

5. I graduated from Gaffney High School in 1975 and attended USCSpartanburg for three years in business. I was a supervisor at Magnolia Finishing Plant for seven years. I helped my father farm for 23 years and ran my own plumbing business for twelve years. I worked construction, installing heating, air and sewers in schools for 15 years. I think we can budget around mechanical issues to save money without hurting our children’s education.

6. I think Cherokee County schools should try to do business with Cherokee County businesses. As small as Cherokee County is, there may be times when someone is hired to do a job that is a friend or relative of a board member. If all positions are publicly announced and the best applicant is chosen, then it would not be a conflict of interest.

District 5 Incumbent Amanda Knowles

1. Realign the salaries to better fit our economic state in Cherokee County. We have not been compared to like districts in the past and a realigning could find some financial relief. I would at least like to see the cuts made this year on the state and federal levels be returned.

2. Yes, I am already seeing positive reaction.

3. I think that someone with a background in curriculum is a must in order to get our focus on the classroom and move the district forward in education. I also believe that there should be careful consideration of ALL applicants and look at more than just those who are local. Look for those who can show that they have results in their leadership positions. Anyone can tell you how awesome they are, but what are others willing to say about them?

4. I think the teachers and administrators on the school level should be asked this question and we should listen. They see the students day to day and know the challenges they face and what we need to address to help them succeed.

5. I have an A.S. Degree in Business from Spartanburg Community College and a B.S. in Liberal Studies (Business/Computer Science) from Limestone College. I have a Human Resource Background as well as management and supervisory experience.

6. I have been known to express my concern over nepotism issues but I am also aware that in a small town you will be faced with issues of employees being related to board members and companies being connected as well. However, I believe that having checks and balances in place and a public awareness of the bid process and ensuring that protocol is being followed could help to ensure this is being done properly. I also question why we don’t have checks and balances for the board of trustees. We are one of a few districts in the state who don’t have some type of oversight committee or council.

District 5

Challenger Ron Garner

1. All programs will need to be reviewed for savings which least affect the educational benefits to the students. We need to work thru our local state delegation to have the state redistribute some funds to K-12 educational needs. Some of the lottery money now being used for scholarships needs to go to K-12.

If the students do not get the foundations and skills they need college scholarship money will be wasted since they will not be able to maintain the grades required to stay in school.

2. The change of leadership can be positive if the politics are removed from the system. If elected I plan to look forward with the best interest of the students as my number one priority.

3. The superintendent needs to have experience in a similar district as ours in size and social and economic makeup. We need the best superintendent available for the position.

4. The district has done an adequate job in most cases but as with everything there is room for improvement. We need more flexible curriculums which allow for departmentalized teaching and homogeneous grouping to ensure that every student is challenged to reach their full potential.

5. I have a BS from Clemson University and an associate degree in business. My professional career covers 40 years of business management, budgeting, teaching at the tech school level, working with people and my construction expertise.

6. No one should ever run for public office for personal gains. In a community as close as Cherokee County it would probably be impossible to eliminate all purchasing from family, friends and other associates. All purchasing must be done according to our district purchasing policy and procurement code. Three sealed bids should be received all purchases. All purchasing activities are covered by Article 7 Section 8-13-700 of the State Ethics Code.