|
Hensley
Thompson
Bledsoe |
BY ROBIN KNEPPER
Orange County School Board Chairman Jerry Bledsoe faces competition in his bid for a third term in the District 4 seat.
Todd Hensley, a loan officer for a mortgage company in Culpeper, is challenging Bledsoe. School spending is a key issue in his campaign.
At a candidates' forum last month, Hensley criticized severance pay for a former school superintendent and the building of the new Locust Grove Middle School.
"There are far more efficient ways to spend our money," he said. "Building a third middle school this decade was not it."
Plans call for the current middle school to become Locust Grove Elementary School for grades three through five when the new middle school opens in 2011. The elementary school will become a primary school for grades kindergarten through two.
Hensley criticized that plan, saying it would create "a super elementary school [that] goes against quality education. Smaller elementary schools reduce time on the school bus."
Bledsoe, owner of a construction company, said the School Board's job is to present growth trends and current space conditions in the schools to the Board of Supervisors, which makes construction and funding decisions.
Because of overcrowding, Locust Grove Elementary, now has 16 classrooms in trailers, and the fifth grade has been moved to the middle school next door.
At the candidates' forum last month, Bledsoe said he was committed to retaining and hiring certified staff and "expanding our career and technical offerings." He said he wanted to create "additional space to accommodate expanded course offerings and to relieve overcrowding at the high school."
He said he also would form a committee of district residents to advise him on school matters.
The District 4 seat is the only contested School Board race on the Nov. 3 ballot in Orange. Lou Thompson is unopposed for the District 1 seat, the only other one up for election this year under Orange's staggered-term system.
Thompson, a communications professional who served as assistant White House press secretary under President Gerald Ford, will fill the seat being vacated by Chris Haney, who chose not to seek re-election.
Now a partner with consulting firm Beacon Advisors and a columnist for Compliance Week magazine, Thompson also supports the expansion of vocational education "beyond what's offered at the high school."
He has also said that he supports "merit-based compensation for teachers" based on recommendations by school principals, saying it would "give them some incentive" for performance.
Standards of Learning tests, part of the No Child Left Behind Act, "should go," he says, noting that they "force teachers to teach the test."
Robin Knepper: 540/972-5701
Email: rknepper@earthlink.net
|
LOUIS M. THOMPSON JR.
Address: 11539 Spicers Mill Road
Political experience: Assistant White House press secretary to President Gerald R. Ford
Age: 71
Family: Wife: Laura; seven children
Occupation: Partner, Beacon Advisors, strategic communications consulting firm; monthly columnist, Compliance Week magazine
Education: Bachelor's, master's degrees, Iowa State University
Community activities: Orange Boys & Girls Club Board
Honors, awards: Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society (1969); 2000 Lifetime Achievement Award in Investor Relations by Barron's and Investor Relations Magazine; 2001 James W. Schwartz Award for Distinguished Service in Journalism and Communication (Iowa State); 2006 Barron's & Wall Street Journal Award for Distinguished Service in Corporate Communication and Investor Relations; Bronze Star for service in Vietnam 1969-70 in MACV Office of Information; Legion of Merit as military assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (1971-74)
Most important issues: Repeal Standards of Learning in the No Child Left Behind Act so teachers can teach critical thinking skills; pay teachers competitive salaries to retain good employees; provide vocational education program.
Occupation: owner, Robert G. Bledsoe Building Co. Education: Orange County public schools through ninth grade; graduate, Woodberry Forest School; attended Bridgewater College Community activities: Rhoadesville Baptist Church, finance and building committee; Piedmont Virginia Builders Association; sponsor for various East Orange youth sports; Orange County Chamber of Commerce; Culpeper County Chamber of Commerce, Virginia School Board Association, voting delegate Honors, awards: Virginia School Board Association Academy Award of Achievement and Award of Excellence. Most important issues: Supported new middle school to handle projected growth and the need to build more flexible space; reduced budget through layoffs and other cost-cutting to make up for revenue shortfalls; providing school career and technical education program for students. TODD A. HENSLEY Address: 28625 Morel Way Rhoadesville Political experience: none Age: 35 Family: Wife: Denise, one daughter Occupation: Senior loan officer, Mason Dixon Funding; operator, Walmart Distribution Education: Associates degree, Piedmont Virginia Community College; bachelor's degree, Mary Washington College Community activities: Orange Lions Club Most important issues: Bring schools into 21st century to ensure every child in the county receives best education possible; focus spending on classroom programs not construction to improve graduation rate; establish career training and technical education center. |
