School Board Decision Awaits

by Thadd White - June 1st, 2007 - Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald

Three citizens made their case to join the Bertie County Board of Education here yesterday (Friday) morning.

Seaton P. Fairless Jr., Cordia M. Hall and Emma H. Johnson each took their turn to discuss why they would like to be chosen to replace Mike Bracy on the board.

As most readers are aware, I have already endorsed candidate Emma Johnson. This is a good article and gives a really balanced review of the statements made by the candidates and the answers they gave to the questions asked. However I think some background and history is important.

Seaton Fairless was a part of a board that actively tried to close community Elementary Schools. He did not just respond to what the Justice Department wanted, but took actions that clearly indicated the board of that time welcomed closing the schools, even though the claimed DOJ basis was fraudulent. In any consideration of his candidacy that history cannot be ignored.

I have no clear picture of Cordia Hall's candidacy. The one public statement I heard her make indicated she welcomed moving some of the waste of the Bertie County school central office into the classrooms to help our kids, and yet she also spoke in favor of keeping the controversial former Superintendent who publicly fought and ridiculed all such actions. This seems inconsistent to me.

Emma Johnson worked hard to keep the local schools open, and all of her public comments about actions to eliminate some of the waste in our current expenditures in order to help our children get a better education have left me with the belief she is the best candidate for the job. Even in the couple of areas where we disagree, I like the fact that she doesn't play games. She simply explained her opposition to my ideas and what hers were. No games. No equivocation. Polite but firm. Just like the excellent librarian she was for so many years.

I have never believed that we must all agree on how to fix the problems in our school systems. I do believe there is a clear difference between those who talk about our children but defend those who advocate the status quo of failure and those who are incensed at the ongoing failure to teach our children. Emma Johnson is incensed at the past failures and encouraged by actions that make sense taken by the new board. On those positive signs I hope Emma Johnson gets her chance to help our children improve their education and move on to become great Americans like others who were given the chance that education bestows.