Coleman Hunt was next. (Summarized from Mr. Hunt’s prepared statement.) Grew up on a Cleveland County farm and started school at Green Bethel-a segregated school. Started at Crest High in 1967 – 11th grade-at the end of segregation. Learned to play football and won scholarship at Gardner Webb. Finished Gardner Webb and went to work at Crest High School, moved around over the years. Eleven years Principal at Washington Elementary, which went from low performing to top performing. Says will work with School Board so teachers can be successful. Parent of two children who now live elsewhere. Said it was time to give back.
Now, the real action began. A TownHall type Question and Answer period. This audience was the most well informed of any audience at any Forum I have ever attended.
TownHall:
At this point the candidates answered questions from the audience. This audience, as stated previously, was well informed regarding issues related to education, Cleveland County Schools and the various related problems and educational issues.
School Choice:
Dena Green-for,
Barbara Romich-for,
Coleman Hunt stated he did not advocate school choice. Mr. Hunt also insinuated that Charter Schools were not public schools. Moderator Bill Turpish reminded Mr. Hunt that Charter Schools were indeed public schools. Betsy Harnage, the Cleveland County Register of Deeds and a Board member of Pinnacle Classical Academy, was chafing at the bit to add to that discussion, but Moderator Turpish’s response suited Harnage sufficient to add her comments later in the Forum.
Audience member Larry Moore asked the candidates to “define a quality education.” Each candidate stumbled a little to a lot on this question.
Barbara Romich said parents must be a part of decisions.
Coleman Hunt said “not having to take remediation classes. Kids are ready.”
Dena Green probably said it best that a quality education is when the education “is sufficient to meet the needs of the student to be successful in their career.”
