District 6 Bibb school board candidates differ on system’s progress

The Bibb County school system’s recent student results, including graduation rates, are a point of focus for both the incumbent and the challengers in the race for the District 6 seat on the school board.

Jason Downey, who has held the post since he ran unopposed in 2012, said he’s been a part of a “winning team” for the past term.

“We have made great strides in the past three and a half years, and I look forward to continuing to move this system forward,” Downey said.

Downey, an attorney, has cited the system’s rising graduation rates as evidence the current board’s efforts are working. The district’s 2012 graduation rate was 52.3 percent, while the 2015 rate was 71.2 percent.

He also said he is glad to have been a part of the group that brought in Superintendent Curtis Jones in 2015 and that continuing to push toward a 90 percent graduation rate is key, as is improving discipline in Bibb County schools.

“I know that when I shake hands, thousands of people have thanked me for my service,” he said.

While Downey said he thinks morale is high in the district and that people want to be a part of it, challenger Valerie Wynn said that’s not the case. Describing herself as the “grass-roots candidate,” Wynn said that when she was in school in Bibb County, the district was a quality one.

“We had pride in this community about that,” she said. “My concern and my reason for doing this is I see our school system, our public school system, in trouble. It has not progressed.”

She said that along with parental involvement, the district needs to focus on student behavior to help improve schools.

“Parents are telling me there’s no discipline in our schools,” Wynn said.

Bob Easter, a former business owner, said he’s challenging for the seat now because he has spent time in the classroom and wants to help improve the experience there. He left the business world to teach six years ago, he said.

“I’ve been investing in the children of our community for six years,” Easter said. “We have to take better care of our children.”

For his top priorities, Easter said the board needs to be wiser in allocating resources, especially since all three candidates say they are against raising the millage rate. He also pointed to innovative programs such as “Leader in Me” as vital to future success.

He added that while graduation rates are rising, Bibb County has remained behind several surrounding counties that also have made improvements.

Additionally, Easter has been an instructor at Mercer University, which he thinks will be an asset if he’s elected.

“I understand what skills our children need to be successful in college,” he said.

The nonpartisan election for the District 6 race is set for May 24. District 6 encompasses the areas surrounding Carter, Lane, Springdale and Taylor elementary schools, as well as Howard middle and high schools.

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 6:20 PM with the headline "District 6 Bibb school board candidates differ on system’s progress."