Denny
As an instructor at Tri-County Community College, Allen Denny believes he has been in a good position to understand how students could be better prepared for life after high school. He hopes to apply that knowledge as the District 2 representative on the Cherokee County Board of Education.
“Being at the college, I’m able to see the product that comes out (of the school system), and for the most part they’re really good, but then some things it’s like, could we not be doing it better?” Denny said. “Prepare them a little bit more when they come out, because some of them come out and they don’t even know how to format a paper (in order to do their classwork).”
Although he teaches at a college, Denny doesn’t believe a four-year degree is a fit for everyone. He would like to see more Cherokee County students trained to fill the “brick and mortar” job needs around the area. The Republican candidate said he’s seen firsthand with his own sons how different students can be, with some geared toward white collar work and others preferring to work with their hands.
“One of my big things is I think we need to start promoting more trade and technical training,” Denny said. “For years, it was that college was the end-all be-all, but not all kids need to go to college.
“If you look at your HVAC places, they’re always hurting for people. There’s a lot of work and a lot of careers that people make a really good living out of things that schools almost kind of belittle.”
Denny, a graduate of Andrews High School and former sheriff’s deputy, said he’s long considered a run for the school board and finally felt the timing was right. The District 2 seat is being vacated by Jeff Martin, who is not seeking re-election.
“It’s just kind of another way to give back,” Denny said. “I’ve been interested and thought about doing it for years, and I finally just decided to pull the trigger and go for it now.”
Denny is entering the political realm at a time when there is no shortage of important issues facing Cherokee County Schools. He is opposed to the consolidated high school that has been approved by the board of education and county commissioners, primarily due to its location.
“Working for the sheriff’s office, I’m painfully aware of just how big this county is,” Denny said. “I was always more for the two-school solution. I liked the east and west (campus) idea.”
However, Denny said he understands that the numerous civil lawsuits filed and already settled against Cherokee County and the Department of Social Services could make it difficult to fund one new school, let alone two. He recognizes the increased variety of classes that a single high school would provide.
“I’m against it in its present form, but I’m not totally opposed to the idea,” Denny said. “I don’t want to see Andrews High gone, but at the same time, there comes a point where things have got to move forward, too.
“The bottom line is it needs to be focused on what’s best for the kids, not what mom and dad want to hold onto. The biggest positive I see from the one high school plan is the options you can offer the students.”
Denny said he can also see the logic in consolidating elementary and middle schools into a trio of future K-8 campuses in the Andrews, Murphy and either the Ranger or Hiwassee Dam communities.
“I really don’t think it’s a bad idea to do it that way,” he said. “You’re conserving resources and conserving money in the long run.
“There are going to be tough decisions. I have no illusions on it, and any decisions we make or I make is going to tick someone off.”