Editor’s note: Read all Times endorsements for Hamilton County Board of Education in the Aug. 6 election here.
Ruth Walker, a trained developmental psychologist running as a Democrat in District 3, has a skillset far too many in elected office lack: the ability to parse documented data and make sound public policy decisions based on evidence.
“I feel like we’re missing kind of that piece of really thinking through the steps, being very intentional with these decisions,” Walker said in an interview with the Chattanooga Times, commenting on the school board’s decision to end its contract with Centerstone. “Then when we make them, following through to get the data, to figure out what’s the impact.”
On the Republican ticket, candidate Ashley Dillon told the Times that she was happy to see the board compromise on the Centerstone issue and offer more options for students.
But this is not good enough. Without condemning the initial decision outright, Dillon and the local GOP should not be trusted with power on the school board.