[August 24, 2011] Superintendent's race to be decided August 23 Tweet KOSCIUSKO, Aug 19, 2011 (The Star-Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- One Attala County race will be decided on August 23 -- Superintendent of Attala County Schools. Greenlee Elementary School Principal Bryan Weaver took 39 percent of the votes in the Democratic Primary with Edinburg Elementary Principal Culley Newman, a former teacher and coach in the Attala County School District, taking in 32 percent. Also on the Democratic ballot is the race for the governor candidates. They are Johnny L. Dupree and Bill Luckett. On the Republican ballot, Lynn Fitch faces Lee Yancy to see who will be the candidate for state treasurer. Polls will be open on Aug. 23 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and votes will be tabulated in the Attala County Courthouse across the hall from circuit clerk Wanda Fancher's office. Those wishing to absentee vote are asked to come to Fancher office. The last day to absentee vote is Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. The following information was obtained from questionnaires that were featured in our Election Guide, published on July 21. Why are you running for office? Newman: I am running for the Office of Superintendent of the Attala County Public Schools for two major reasons. First, the Attala County schools are at the threshold of excellence. Because of the high quality of the teachers in the county, the district has been able to maintain the successful level of accreditation for the past eight years. The majority of teachers are diligent and doing their best to provide a quality education for Attala County's children and youth. I believe that I can offer the leadership necessary to assist the teachers in their quest of guiding the county's students to achieve excellence. Secondly, my wife and I are the parents of three children. Our oldest child will start school in Attala County this fall. Our children will be attending the county's schools for the next 18 years. In brief, I have a vested interest in what will be happening in the school district because of my children. My number one goal will be to provide the best educational system possible in Attala County. Weaver: I am running for the office of Superintendent of Education to ensure that ALL the students of the Attala County School District are provided a safe, drug free environment where they can receive the best education possible by highly qualified instructors. Why should voters pick you? Newman: I believe the voters should pick me because of my experience as both an educator and small business owner. Fourteen years in education, coupled with owning a business, has given me the capability to work cooperatively with others representing varied interests from throughout our county: teachers, parents, business leaders, concerned citizens, law officers, county politicians, and so forth. Being an effective superintendent requires being a good communicator. Weaver: The voters of Attala County should choose to vote for me because of my experience both in the Attala County School District and in school administration. I have had the privilege of working in the Attala County School District for 15 years from 1996 until present at both McAdams High School and Greenlee Elementary. During these 15 years I have worked as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal. Of the 15 years of work in the district, I have worked as a principal or assistant principal for 12 years. Throughout my experience in the Attala County District, I have always worked to put the students first and I will continue to do this if I elected superintendent. What are the biggest problems facing education in Attala County and what can be done to fix them? Newman: The three biggest problems facing education in Attala County may be addressed in terms of revenue, community support, and school improvement. The first problem involves shrinking revenues in regard to a balanced budget. School finances must be carefully managed in order to address the shrinkage problem. My experience as a small business owner uniquely prepares me to get maximum benefit from school district revenues. For example, take revenue harvested from Sixteenth Section Lands. We need to work closely with the Mississippi Forestry Commission to manage these lands in order to maximize revenue. There are many acres of timberland in Attala County designated as Sixteenth Section Lands for educational purposes, but we must know the age of each timber stand and when the market is best for selling: that is, it's important to sell the timber when the market is good and to let trees grow when the market is poor. The second problem is community support. In Attala County, community support is good, but could be even better. Robust parent-teacher organizations are crucial for school success. Parent input must be solicited and welcomed. Establishing close ties with service clubs and other community organizations is equally important. As superintendent, I would take the lead in making this happen through honest communication and transparency. School improvement constitutes the third problem. There are only two kinds of schools in Mississippi: improving schools or declining ones. We cannot rest on our laurels. We need to continuously work to improve student academic achievement and graduation rates. As superintendent, I would strive to make Attala County known throughout the state for attracting and retaining highly qualified educators by offering the best compensation and benefit package possible for both teachers and support staff. Quality education begins and ends in the classroom. Weaver: With high stakes testing and the new Common Core State Standards in place the Attala County School District has in place new programs and tools to make progress academically. However, the biggest problems facing the district are communication and unity. The Attala County School District is ONE single district but has been treated as four separate school identities. It is time for all our schools to work together and be seen as one. The sense of unity has to start at the top with the Superintendent and School Board and work down through the schools. Communication has to be made better between all the stakeholders: parents, students, community leaders, teachers, school personnel, superintendent, and board members. All of our stakeholders must work together with the board and superintendent to make our district the best that it can be. ___ (c)2011 The Star-Herald (Kosciusko, Miss.) 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