School board District 1 will have a new member come September. Incumbent Evetty Satterfield did not seek re-election, joining Patti Bounds and Virginia Babb to leave the board.
Town Hall East hosted a forum April 11 for the four candidates seeking election from District 1.
Running in the Democratic Primary are Charles Frazier, who works in media/communications, and John Butler, a pastor active in the NAACP. Independent candidates are community activists Reginald Jackson and Breyauna Holloway.
The candidates were articulate and sincere. They pledged to work with principals, teachers and students to create and implement better plans to improve district schools.
THE president Sandra Korbelik moderated the 90-minute event. Attendance was modest. Much of the discussion concerned aspects of improving education, with concentration on setting policies and plans and getting operational funding that concentrates on providing “equity” for disadvantaged kids in the Black community.
There were no fireworks. Concerns were expressed about the need for greater resources to help kids succeed in school, including securing additional federal and state funding for items like playground facilities and placing mental health professionals (like social workers) to help in schools. The candidates were opposed to using public funds for charter schools or other parental choice opportunities.
Concern was also expressed over disparate discipline received by young Black offenders, compared to similarly situated white kids. No particular remedy was suggested. Candidates agreed that parents were the ones charged with sexual education, particularly sensitive gender transition issues.
Holloway noted that education should include information on sexual health. On the subject of potentially objectionable books, parents should be made aware of what is available to students. Generalizing on this touchy subject, Frazier perhaps said it best: the purpose of education is to help kids learn how to think.
Nick Della Volpe is a lawyer, a gardener and a former member of Knoxville City Council.