At least two of the five incumbent Hamilton County Board of Education members up for re-election are not seeking another term.
Chairman Kenny Smith is running for a spot on the Hamilton County Commission, and member Janice Boydston said Wednesday she plans to step down after 28 years on the board.
“It’s a very difficult decision, but when you’ve been on the board as long as I have, you learn that no one’s indispensable,” Mrs. Boydston said. “It’s hard to walk away from something you feel so passionate about…. Maybe it’s time for a new set of eyes.”
Mrs. Boydston said part of the reason she is comfortable stepping down is because Joe Galloway, a retired teacher who is a graduation coach at Lookout Valley High School, agreed to run for her District 6 seat.
“I wanted to make sure whoever takes my place has a total commitment to children,” she said. “I know such a person.”
Mrs. Boydston said her decision was not related to a 2008 incident where she was accused of shoplifting about $40 in merchandise from the Lookout Valley Walmart.
In November, Ms. Boydston worked out a deal with prosecutors in which she does not have to admit guilt but must perform 57 hours of community service at the Chattanooga Food Bank or the Community Kitchen.
Cole T. Smith also has filed papers to run for Mrs. Boydston’s District 6 seat.
Board member Chester Bankston would say only that he has not yet picked up papers to run again for his District 9 seat.
Everett Fairchild and Jeffrey Wilson picked up their papers and plan to run again, and a handful of new faces are seeking available seats in districts 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9.
Mr. Fairchild, who worked 37 years for the Hamilton County school system before serving on the board for 16 years, said he doesn’t think now is a good time to step down. The school system is facing a $12 million budget shortfall and is considering closing and consolidating several schools.
“There will be some critical decisions to make, and I thought this was not a good time to walk away,” said Mr. Fairchild, 80. “I felt like I could still make a contribution.”
Marty Haynes has filed papers to run against Mr. Fairchild.
Incumbent board member Jeffrey Wilson is the only one so far to pick up papers for the District 5 race, and Dean Arnold plans to run for Mr. Smith’s District 8 seat.
School board races are nonpartisan. The county general election is Aug. 5.
KEY ELECTION DATES
Feb. 18: Qualifying deadline
Aug. 5: County general election
Source: Tennessee Division of Elections