Murphy – Six of the seven candidates seeking Republican nominations to run for Cherokee County Board of Education seats appeared at a candidate forum Friday.
The forum was sponsored by the Cherokee County Republican Party, Cherokee Scout and Local TV4 at the Cherokee County Courthouse. Christina Randall of TV4 was the moderator.
The candidates who appeared were:
- At-large seat: Stephen Dartez and Randy Phillips. There is no candidate on the Democratic Party ballot, so the winner of this race will be the presumptive winner of this seat, which is being vacated by Steve Coleman, who is running for county commissioner.
- District 2, one seat (Murphy): Incumbent Jeannie Gaddis and David Ricks. The winner of this race will be the presumptive winner of the seat since there is no Democrat running.
- District 3, two seats (Hiwassee Dam): Incumbent Jason Murphy, the leading vote-getter in 2022, and incumbent Shannon Raper. Challenger Gary Butler had a work conflict and did not appear Thursday. The two winners in the primary will run against Joy Stein, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Stephen Dartez
Dartez is an entrepreneur in the food industry in Andrews and has several children who attend or have attended Andrews schools. He attended a private Christian school and is a veteran.
He said he is running to help assist teachers, parents and students in a high-poverty school district where he volunteers to assemble and district food bags. He said he is not a “me” person and describes himself as quiet, yet with a loud voice.
To repair a frayed relationship with the board of commissioners, which approves school district expenditures, Dartez said school board members need to walk the schools with commissioners.
To define success and how to achieve it, he said public school class sizes are larger than what he experienced at a Christian school, and reducing class sizes could help.
To keep local schools from losing students and teachers to schools in Georgia, which tend to be better funded, Dartez said one-on-one relationships between students and teachers is key. They need to show parents their children are learning and provide things for children to do, rather than sitting in parking lots after school and moving away when they graduate.
About hiring a schools superintendent, Dartez said it doesn’t matter where the next superintendent comes from, they must have a heart for children, teachers, principals and parents, plus an open door policy.
Randy Phillips
Phillips is a retired coach and school resources officer with Cherokee County Schools who served one term on the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners. “I’ve been involved with kids all my life,” he said.
With his experience as a commissioner, Phillips said he hopes to bring that experience to the school board to help the two boards work well together. “We need to work with commissioners in ways that don’t break the county,” he said.
To repair a frayed relationship with the board of commissioners, he said there needs to be open communications between the two panels, “not fighting against each other or pulling against each other,” he said.
To define success and how to achieve it, Phillips said standardized testing does not serve well in an environment where students have a wide range of capabilities.
“Each kid is different,” he said, adding that the schools should strive for the best education they can give.
To keep local schools from losing students and teachers to schools in Georgia, which tend to be better funded, Phillips said the county can’t afford to continue paying for some teachers salaries to make up the shortfall in state-funded positions.
“Georgia has more to offer,” he said. “Their school system is a whole lot better.”
About hiring and firing a schools superintendent, Phillips said a superintendent needs to tackle problems and be vested in the community.
Jeannie Gaddis
Gaddis taught at Murphy Elementary School for 30 years before retiring and has volunteered at the school since then. An incumbent, she said she is concerned about supporting teachers and administrators. “I want to do my part,” she said.
Gaddis said things have gotten worse since she taught and described current problems as “astronomical,” with children facing new challenges.
“If you haven’t taught, you have no idea,” she said. “It’s an eye-opener.”
To repair a frayed relationship with the board of commissioners, Gaddis said the two panels need to talk and listen to work out resolutions. “It can’t just be our way,” she said.
Children and schools are among the most important things in the community, she said.
To define success and how to achieve it, Gaddis said the schools need to provide students with skills to be proficient, adding that reading is key. Fourth-graders are at 30% proficiency in rating, she said, and without being able to read, everything else falls apart.
About hiring and firing a schools superintendent, she said the school district needs a leader who is not afraid to tackle problems, speak out and take a stand.
“They need to be a part of the community and love our children,” Gaddis said.
David Ricks
Ricks, who is Cherokee County’s code enforcement official, said he wants to be involved and part of the process. His experience as a building inspector showed him that school facilities are in dire need of attention.
To repair a frayed relationship with the board of commissioners, Ricks said children and facilities have been neglected in this county for decades. He hopes to instill small-town values, commitment and communications.
Ricks said schools need to provide a foundation, resources and opportunity. “Let the professionals do their job and success will come forward,” he said.
To keep local schools from losing students and teachers to schools in Georgia, which tend to be better funded, Ricks said schools need to be committed, involved and invested in the community.
About hiring a superintendent, Ricks said the school board “can’t afford another mistake like the last four years.” “I’m been very disappointed in the communication between the superintendent and community.”
Jason Murphy
Murphy is a detective with the Murphy Police Department and an incumbent school board member.
He said Cherokee County Schools has made progress during his term in office but there is more progress to be made. He has two children in school, and “I want to see Cherokee County Schools do good.”
Murphy said he tries to bring common sense to the table, “but with politics, common sense goes out the window.”
To repair a frayed relationship with the board of commissioners, Murphy said there is a big obstruction between the two boards and, quoting the Bible, said a house divided against itself cannot stand.
Murphy said benchmarks are not a good way to measure success. The state is near bottom nationwide.
To keep local schools from losing students and teachers to schools in Georgia, which tend to be better funded, Murphy said budget plays a role and admits teachers can cross the state line and make $15,000 more per year.
About hiring and firing a schools superintendent, Murphy said the school district needs a superintendent who is unafraid to roll up his or her sleeves and get dirty and “has a heart for Cherokee County.”
Shannon Raper
Raper has had several jobs with the county and is an incumbent. She said she was “called and led to run” and wants to make a difference.
Raper said she enjoys service and, though her daughter is grown, still wants to remain involved in schools. She said the current board has a good working relationship among its members.
Raper said the school board has “consistently reached out” to commissioners and have not received feedback or have seen rules change. She said the board changed its meeting schedule to accommodate changes to the commissioners’ meeting schedule.
Raper said she has invited commissioners to walk through schools – some did, but not all.
Raper said standards that change every few years is disruptive. Teachers are called to be teachers, nurses, counselors and parents in the current setting.
She was also critical of state funding as well as the state budget, which has still yet to be approved and leaves local schools in funding limbo. Raper urged constituents to talk with their state representatives.
To keep local schools from losing students and teachers to schools in Georgia, which tend to be better funded, Raper blamed state government as well as economic conditions the school board has no control over.
About hiring and firing a schools superintendent, Raper said the district needs a superintendent who is fiscally and budget minded.
Details: Watch the forum via a link to Local TV4 on the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.