2 compete for South Point seat

Nov. 02--Two South Point residents will challenge each other for the township's seat on the Gaston County Board of Education.

Scot Hughes, an insurance agent, will oppose incumbent Justin Davis, an attorney. Davis has served on the school board since March, after the school board appointed him to fill the South Point Township seat vacated by Chris Howell.

Five total seats on the school board are up for election. Each of the nonpartisan elected positions carries a four-year term. School board members are elected by a countywide vote, but must live in the district they represent.

The Gazette asked each candidate the same four questions.

Scot Hughes:

Age: 46

Home: Belmont

Phone: 704-293-5799

Email: [email protected]

Justin Davis:

Age: 42

Home: Belmont

Phone: 704-825-3321

Email: [email protected]

How will you help the school board to improve its relationship with county commissioners?

HUGHES: From Day 1 I will strive to build respectful relationships with the county commissioners and have civil and friendly dialogue, understanding of course that there will be times when we will disagree on topics. We have to realize that it is OK to disagree, but we must treat one another with respect. We are all in this together and the goals and desire of having a model educational system should cross all those boundaries. School board and county commissioner relationships are very important to the operation of our schools, the appeal of our schools to those moving to the area and to the overall morale of teachers and staff.

DAVIS: County Commission and the school board currently have a very positive and cooperative working relationship. As a current school board member since being appointed to the board in February, I have worked hard to build relationships with current commissioners. I will continue to openly discuss with commissioners the issues our school system faces, ideas to improve our system, and the ways that the county commission can contribute to the success of all students across Gaston County.

How do you think schools can be made safer, and what is your role as a school board member to accomplish this?

HUGHES: I think we must look at different strategies across all our schools as they all have unique settings which must be dealt with on a local level. Some general things we could look at are continuing and adding any group activities at schools which fosters open conversation and communication between students and teachers, I also think we should look at current procedures and/or policies related to the ability to get weapons on campus and in school buildings and see if there is anything we can do to further deter those in the first place. I see my role as a school board member to lead by example and meet with teachers to discuss the various needs and situations which may be occurring. We should also consider hosting speakers of nonprofits who specialize in security issues.

DAVIS: Every school in our system now has a school resource officer, which we, as a school board, helped to accomplish for the 2018-2019 school year. We must continue working to build, improve, and renovate school facilities with safety as a priority. As a school board member, I will continue advocating to county commissioners and legislators in the General Assembly for additional funding for facility improvement, metal detection, other safety equipment, school resource officers, and improved mental health services within our schools. We also must continually review and improve our school safety protocols.

How do you plan to help the school system to retain and attract teachers?

HUGHES: People want to work where they feel like they are appreciated and respected. Working within the funding we are provided and resources at our disposal, we can look at ways to improve and increase teacher morale and happiness with their position. There are lots of questions I think we should be asking ourselves and those employed in our school system to find out what the main items are that would improve the overall morale of teachers and if there are any ways we have not thought of to get access to some resources which would enhance the current working environment. I would like for us to find ways to be able to do more locally for our teachers.

DAVIS: Gaston County Schools' new teacher mentoring program is a great success which provides needed support, encouragement, and mentoring for new teachers in our system and we must continue to support and improve this program. I will advocate for increases in teacher supplement pay so that we can become more competitive with surrounding and competing school districts. Gaston County is a wonderful and affordable place to live, work, and raise a family, due in large part to our commitment to community schools, and we must continue showing this to prospective teachers. As a school board member, I will continue being supportive of programs that encourage professional development and support of our teachers, who are our most valuable educational assets.

Voters approved $250 million to build more schools and make renovations to existing schools. How do you propose this money is prioritized for spending and, in addition to the new Belmont Middle School, where and when should the additional schools be built?

HUGHES: Gaston County Schools already has a long-term plan for additional schools as well as detailed listings of how and where the $250 million bond package would be spent. I think that we should be reviewing those on an annual basis to make sure we are keeping up with growth and development in our county to ensure those long-term plans will still be valid. That same approach should be used in regards to the bond package money on individual schools as any scenario may occur which would alter the original thinking of where money should go and how much should be allotted, like major potholes in school parking lots or new damage to structures.

DAVIS: Bond money spending should be prioritized based on greatest need, with a commitment to also spending in a way that benefits schools and students across Gaston County. Additional schools should be built as our county's financial health allows for the responsible release of bond money, in a way that plans for the future. As our county grows and population changes, we need to be responsive to the future needs of our county and make decisions about the construction of additional schools based on available data, growth, and need projections.

You can reach Eric Wildstein at 704-869-1828 or Twitter.com/TheGazetteEric.

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