Election 2020: Q&A with Chattahoochee County School Board Post 1 candidates
To help voters decide which local candidates to support in the June 9 election, the Ledger-Enquirer is publishing a series of stories about the contested races in a Q&A format.
Today, we feature the Post 1 seat on the Chattahoochee County County School Board. The two-term incumbent is Carrie Morgan Jackson. The challenger is Kenyana White.
White didn’t respond to the Ledger-Enquirer’s request for her to participate before this article’s deadline. She listed homemaker as her occupation in her qualifying document.
According to her April 22 Facebook post, White served on the school district’s Ford Next Generation Committee, the CTAE and Federal Stakeholders Committee and the Principal Selection Committee. She attended ChattCo elementary and middle schools but left to attend high school elsewhere because the county didn’t have a high school at the time.
“I have three children that currently attend school in the district,” she said, “and I cannot be more satisfied or impressed with the quality of education they receive.”
White wants to “focus on increasing student attendance, retention and graduation rates.” With input from all stakeholders involved, she said, “I would like to discover the various aspects hindering our students’ achievement and collectively create and implement strategies of success that are conducive and tailored to the demographic of the students we serve.”
She also wants to improve “communicative transparency between the superintendent, teachers, staff, parents and students. … The only way to ensure this is done is by creating open communication practices that are geared toward the overall success of our students.”
Jackson, 42, is a senior business analyst at TSYS, where she has worked for 25 years. She graduated from the now-closed Tri-County High School in Buena Vista.
In addition to serving on the school board since 2012, she has been the vice chairwoman since 2014, helping the board earn a quality of distinction designation from the Georgia School Boards Association since 2016. She is a district delegate to the GSBA’s conference.
Jackson also serves on the Chattahoochee Valley Academy Committee and the district’s Strategic Plan Committee.
The candidates were asked the following questions via email:
Why should residents in your district vote for you over your opponent?
Jackson: “I have been a resident of Chattahoochee County for 24 years. With a child who has graduated from the system, I know how important it is to have a well-organized school system that works together as a whole. I have been able to do this with my fellow board members, especially, as we have been faced with challenges along the way, such as budget cuts and needed upgrades for facilities. As an experienced board member, I bring the necessary knowledge to the position regarding budget and finance, as this is critical to the success of a growing system. Additionally, I have a background in continuous improvement. Using those skills, I understand the importance of aligning all work from preK-12 to the improvement plan and am committed to our five-year strategic plan.”
What is the most important issue in ChattCo, and how should it be addressed during the 2020-21 school year?
Jackson: “Budget. The board’s primary role is to approve an annual budget. I believe that FY21 and FY22 are critical years to have an experienced board member serve District 1. With the expected state budget cuts at a minimum of 14%, it is necessary to be knowledgeable regarding the state budget process on QBE (Quality Basic Education, the state law for funding public schools), especially as a rural, low-wealth system who relies on the state equalization grant to fund current positions.”
What is the most significant strength and the most significant weakness in ChattCo that has been highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic, and what will be their impact when schools reopen?
Jackson: “During this pandemic, one thing is clear: Our employees truly love our children! From the meal deliveries in the community, to the multiple ways teachers met student learning needs, our people are our heartbeat and greatest strength.
“However, this pandemic has shined a light even more so on the significant infrastructure issues that rural communities face. With lack of internet access in the community and with the dwindling operational budget, there were many students who did not have adequate access to technology.
“Working for a technology company, I am well aware of how the digital landscape is changing. ...a well-thought-out plan for increasing technology will be necessary for Chattahoochee County to continue our success. I am proud to say that we recently approved technology upgrades, such as online student registration, wi-fi extenders to allow for a longer range of access to the school’s connection and additional Chromebook equipment.”
Should voters approve the ESPLOST referendum? Why or why not?
Jackson: “Yes, I absolutely agree that the voters of Chattahoochee County should vote yes to extend the continuation of ESPLOST. Because of ESPLOST, we now have a community high school and have added a college and career academy. This year, we were able to purchase two new school buses for our increasing enrollment using ESPLOST. Updating facilities and technology can only occur with an ESPLOST, and the students of Chattahoochee County deserve the same resources as children in other communities.”
