Early Look at Washington Co. Va. Candidates
ABINGDON, Va. – Seven months remain before the general election, but candidates hoping to win the favor of Washington County voters are already announcing election bids.
Three seats are up for election this year on the seven-member Washington County Board of Supervisors. Also on the ballot Nov. 3 will be three seats on the seven-member board for the Washington County Public Schools. The school board election is nonpartisan.
School board
The first to file paperwork to run this year was J. Sanders Henderson, who is hoping to fill the school board seat now held by Curtis Burkett, who is not seeking re-election.
“If I’m going to do something, I’m going to go all at it and roll up my sleeves and try to get the job done,” Henderson said. “I was born and raised on a farm, and that’s how we did it.”
Henderson, 47, lives in Poor Valley and describes himself as “a blue-collar type guy that’s got a master’s degree” and served as a teacher and coach before becoming an assistant principal. He is the assistant principal at Chilhowie Elementary School.
Burkett, 59, of Abingdon, who was a teacher, coach and principal before serving on the school board, said he won’t seek re-election because of health reasons.
“If I physically felt like I was up to it, I would definitely be running,” Burkett said. “It’s a hard thing to come to grips with, that you’re not physically able to do the job like you would want to do it, and I just felt like it was time for me to step aside.”
The other two board members facing re-election in November are Tom Musick of Damascus and Herschel Stevens, who represents an area near Bristol.
“We are in a building program of $7 million, and I want to see it through,” Stevens said.
Musick, the school board chairman, said he is circulating petitions to get on this year’s ballot.
County board
On the board of supervisors, Vice-Chairman Jack McCrady, D-Damascus, was the first to announce his re-election bid.
“A lot of people in our area [have] lost their jobs, and we have to work with them and live within the present tax structure,” said McCrady, 60, a builder and retired coal miner. He said that means focusing on core services and living within the county’s means.
“It’s vitally important to keep as many people working, and you need to send as many good signals about the economy, as you can,” McCrady said.
He also said he’d like to see more pavement and high-speed Internet infrastructure in rural Washington County.
Supervisor Dulcie Mumpower, R-Wyndale, who represents the area between Bristol and Abingdon, said the county’s current financial situation will be the most pressing issue in the next few years.
“I’m seeking re-election because I’m interested in progress for the county and there’s projects that I want to see fulfilled, and to serve the people and try to keep the tax rate low and make Washington County a better place for the citizens that live here,” said Mumpower, 62, a lab technician who has served on the board since 1993.
Supervisor Paul Price, a political independent from Shortsville who represents the northeast section of the county and makes a point of not seeking handouts for his district, said he is so far undecided about another term.
Price, 59, said health concerns are at the core of his dilemma. But, he said, “I’ll decide something real shortly.”
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Legacy of the current Washington county board of supervisors.
Tax his land, Tax his bed, Tax the table At which he’s fed.
Tax his tractor, Tax his mule, Teach him taxes Are the rule.
Tax his work, Tax his pay, He works for peanuts Anyway!
Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat.
Tax his ties, Tax his shirt, Tax his work, Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink,
Tax him if he Tries to think..
Tax his cigars, Tax his beers, If he cries Tax his tears.
Tax his car, Tax his gas, Find other ways To tax his a—.
Tax all he has Then let him know
That you won’t be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers,
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till He’s good and sore..
Then tax his coffin, Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in Which he’s laid.
Put these words Upon his tomb,
‘Taxes drove me to my doom…‘
When he’s gone, Do not relax,
Its time to apply The inheritance tax.
$100,000 A YEAR ACCORDING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD
Perhaps those posting here in support of IB and AP courses don’t understand what I’m saying. Either that, or they’re in denial.
Here’s what happens. In most schools, there aren’t enough students who are truly gifted enough, and mature enough to handle these types of classes. Trust me, they’re tough!! Rather than have classes with 4 or 5 students, school leaders will encourage other, less able, students to enroll. When those less able students begin to struggle, the teachers sort of water down the class so all can do OK. That hurts the gifted students in that they aren’t challenged as they should be.
I’ll bet that some will post here saying that teachers don’t water down the work. That’s fine, and in some rare cases, maybe they don’t. However, when parents of the students who were encouraged to enroll begin to complain, that’s when the work becomes a bit easier. That’s because the last thing administrators want to hear are complaints from parents. Principals, in many cases, instruct the teachers to have few failures. Non-educators, I’m sure, find this hard to believe, but trust me, it’s true.
Some students do indeed benefit from these types of classes. There’s little doubt about that. However, school leaders love to have high numbers in these classes because it looks great on school reports. Numbers enrolled are stressed, NOT numbers of students who succeed.
Wake up parents, these classes are extremely overrated. Young people will do just fine in life with no AP or IB classes. History proves that.
dad
I’m going to look at it from your perspective in hopes you can see mine. If we spent $100k each year on IB program…(it’s actually $21k this yr, per Ina Danko) and we have 30-35 students graduating with plans to attend college….and those children actually learn how to read, research, and write (primary benefits of IB)well enough to receive $3000 each in scholarships (not hard to do if you work at it)...then I’d say it’s all a wash and money well spent.
Because if we don’t teach them to read, research and write well, there is a high probability that many of those children won’t find a good job, won’t be able to support themselves or a family and will end up on social welfare or worse if they go down the wrong road seeking fast money, either of which will far outweigh the cost of IB at VHS. We are spending twice the amount in teacher raises over the next two years than we will on IB.
Who in their right mind thinks a raise is appropriate during a recession of this nature? How can that be justified?
Why not just give 2 kids the $50,000.00 each year instead of spending it on a Program?
At least we know they would have a better chance of going on to college after high school.
dad
dad
Again you have missed the point on this program. It is open to all students. Completing the terminal degree is GREAT, but you can’t judge the program by that numerical facet alone. Btw, I’d research your “facts” on spending levels again. How much is it worth for our school system to produce top high school graduates?
There are 147 kids in the senior class this yr, I’m leaving out the Soph & Jr.‘s as I don’t have accurate facts on those numbers. But roughly 20% of those students take IB classes with absolutely no intention of pursuing the IB degree. Why? Because colleges want applicants to pursue the most rigorous curriculum available. IB is considered a more rigorous program than AP. It is also one that is recognized as an International standard for learning. Our children compete on a global basis for school admission slots and jobs post graduation.
Whether they get the IB degree or not, THEY STILL BENEFIT in two ways. They gain admission to excellent schools because of the curriculum (intangible) and receive scholarships as a result (tangible). To the tune of tens of thousands of dollars each year, so some of the investment is an immediate return and some is longer term in nature.
These are not benefits that the school receives immediate revenue from but in terms of scholarship money for the students and an educated community as you espoused, it fits right in with your post from this am. What are the schools for anyway…to benefit the children and community. Go back and actually read the Citizen X post on scholarships so you can get your mind around this concept. Here’s the link….http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/parents_defend_ib_program/22386/P10/
There was mention that most of the kids can’t perform in the AP/IB arena and the teachers water them down??? That is simply not a fact, IB and AP tests are standardized and any attempt to water down the material would be an attempt to undermine student success. Are there any teachers you know that work that strategy in their planning books? LOL….
You stated to spend the money on schools and build the community…but in your posts from last week you also think that having the same curriculum for all students is a good idea…so why do we allow our children to accept the “standard curriculum” and continually fall behind other areas of Va. in terms of education and earnings rates? Why not raise the bar for them and this community at the same time?
dad, who were the businesses that were going to come here and pay 10+ per hour and were run off?
Also, paying a business to stay or come doesnt always work but sometimes it does. Bristol Compressors is an example. Three different companies have been paid to buy this company. Two of them cut their losses and sold it off before their contract was up for the money they received, the owners that have it now are really struggling with it and most of the employees are only working two of four weeks of the year. Not sure whether you could call that a win or lose situation. It is still open, but the unemployment benefits they recieve on those down weeks are no compare to their salaries. And the comany that has it now only starts their assemlby line workers at $7 per hour…and that is extremely hard work, 12hr shifts. Why? because they can in this area.
Just because a Bussiness is successful in another state does not mean opening a branch here will be.
Greenville had 4 startups that lasted less than 5 years in their industrial park. One was a Fiberglass Business making water park equipment, another made mounting hardware for flat screen T V’s, Solar Panel and other equpiment.
A lot of Economic Devolpment Money was spent to no end.
dad
dad
At least you’re consistant with your inability to see the forest for the trees…
How many business start ups are actually recruited to an industrial park? Answer…ZERO
Most business start ups operate from a garage…Yes there is a high failure rate amoung start up businesses. But IDA’s don’t recruit start up businesses.
Apples and Oranges..
Duke—the IB Program has cost $500,000 Dollars so far and only 10 people have been able to complete it.
The AP program cost nothing has the same classes except that the student can choose the more math intensive or other classes.
With such a low success rate of the IB Program why keep throwing money at it !!!!
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