Vote
Early voting starts on July 15 and runs through July 30. General voting will take place on Aug. 4. For more information about polling times and locations, visit elect.hamiltontn.gov.
Early voting in Hamilton County begins July 15, and there are several candidates on the ballot vying for local School Board positions.
Districts 1 and 2 both have contested races. To help introduce the field of candidates to the community, UnifiED, a community-led movement focused on giving every student in Chattanooga the chance to attend great public schools, has hosted debates for the districts where challengers have qualified.
DISTRICT 1
Schools: Allen, Daisy, North Hamilton County and Soddy Elementary schools, Sale Creek Middle/High, Sequoyah Technology Center and Soddy-Daisy Middle and High
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Rhonda Thurman, the incumbent of 12 years, is challenged by longtime local educator and politician Dr. Patti Skates and fireman Jason Moses.
During the district's debate organized by UnifiEd, Thurman said she's dug in her heels on dozens of votes, often alone, refusing to compromise the future of the students she represents.
"You can't all sit around and hold hands," she said. "If it requires a fight, I'm ready to fight."
That was a firm rejection of Skates' assertion that school board members should be ready and willing to compromise when necessary, not only with one another, but the county commission.
Skates said educators cannot keep returning to the county and ask to increase what is now a $417 million budget without showing some improvements within the system.
"We have got to show progress. Once progress is shown, then I think we will be able to get more money," she said. "We have to work together."
Moses' speaking time was dwarfed by both Thurman's and Skates', but he did say he would work closely with teachers and principals to learn how to best structure the budget.
"I'd ask a lot of questions," he said. "I'd listen to teachers more and give them what they ask for."
The issue of working together is essential now more than ever for Skates, who is frustrated with the state of education in Hamilton County.
"When I came in 1988, we were a good school system. When I left in 2010, we were hurting, and we're still hurting. Education is not what education was when I first started teaching," she said.
Thurman was asked directly by an audience member toward the end of the debate if she accepted any blame for underperformance in the system, but she said there's only so much she can do with her one vote to reject bad policy.
According to Thurman, many of the problems faced by the Hamilton County Department of Education today cannot be addressed because it's impossible to get the five votes necessary to change anything.
"They don't want to cut out that position because they would have to say that their friend's job is unimportant," she said, alluding to board members with personal ties to others within the local education system.
DISTRICT 2
Schools: Alpine Crest, Nolan, Red Bank, Thrasher and Rivermont Elementary schools, Red Bank Middle and High and Signal Mountain Middle/High
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Incumbent Jonathan Welch, a local dentist who has served on the board for four years, most recently as the chairman, is being challenged by Kathy Lennon, the director of Chattanooga WorkSpace.
The first question of the debate between them addressed one of the largest issues hovering over the county - how to move forward in hiring a new superintendent to lead the school system after Rick Smith's resignation.
Welch said he would be looking for community feedback before and after the decision is made, but added he prioritizes someone who could help the system's culture change appropriately.
"We've been so top-down in the system for so long, we've killed creative development and parents feel like they don't have a voice," he said.
Lennon said she would push for a nationwide search to find someone who is a strong innovator and leader with a diverse background and who is up-to-date on newly developed teaching methodologies.
"I know that's a big plate to fill," she said, "but other communities have done it, and I think we can do it, too."
The candidates also touched on the issue of student-based budgeting, a funding model that has been suggested as a possible alternative to the facility-based model Hamilton County currently uses.
Lennon said she wasn't sure what would be best for the school system, but promised she was more than willing to research any and all options to find the best path forward.
What she was certain of was, "It is time for a change."
Welch said he would support a student-based model because it would pull some level of control away from the central office and put it into the hands of principals and teachers, not administrators.
"Anything that takes control and puts it closer to the kids, I'm going to be for," said Welch, who also advocates giving students more choices for their education by expanding the district's magnet program.
In response to a question concerning how he'd ensure taxpayer money is spent efficiently and effectively, Welch said the board would establish goals it can be held accountable for.
"I would rebuild the trust of the taxpayers by using the money we have to replace and repair facilities," said Lennon, responding to the same question.
Staff writer Emily Crisman contributed to this story.
Contact Emmett Gienapp at egienapp@timesfreepress.com or 757-6731.