The Calhoun County School Board voted unanimously Monday night to appoint Bruce Mayor Rudy Pope as the representative for district three to serve until after the November election.
The board heard from Willie Ray Brown, Maria Baker and Bubba Weeks, all of Bruce, saying they were interested in the appointment and all planned to qualify and seek the office in the November election.
“I worked for the school district for 23-some-odd years,” said Brown, who noted he has a granddaughter in school in the district. “I worked with most of the staff right here. I understand school board policy. We have a good school system here in Calhoun County, but I want it to become an even better place.”
Bruce Mayor Rudy Pope
“I’ve lived in Bruce for 22 years,” said Baker, who has two daughters at BHS. “I’ve been heavily involved in their education and sports at Bruce. I’d like to not only help with their education but all the students of Calhoun County and support our teachers.”
“I’m vice president of a company and over day-to-day operations, so I problem solve all day and I have to do a lot with a little and know that’s where y’all are month in and month out,” said Weeks, who has two daughters at BES. “I think I would be an asset along with y’all to make sure every kid in Calhoun County Schools achieves their dream whatever it is.”
Following their presentations, the board expressed its preference to appoint someone serve that wasn’t running for the office.
“If we appoint someone to the position that’s running, do you think that would give that person a jump on the others?” Board member Precious Thompson asked.
“I’ll be the first to tell you politics is very funny,” Superintendent Mike Moore said. “That makes sense. If you’ve spoken to someone that would be willing to do it then that would be an option.”
“I think it’s the best option to appoint someone that’s not running,” Thompson said.
Board Vice President Danny Harrelson said he had been contacted by many who thought it was best to appoint someone that was not running.
“I don’t think this board should do anything to give one person an advantage over the others in the election,” Harrelson said.
He then nominated Pope saying he had specified he would not be running in the special election, but was willing to serve the rest of 2015.
“I’m a school person with a lot of experience in different schools and think I can have a good educated opinion to add to what they’re trying to do,”, said Pope, a former teacher and coach at Bruce High School, when contacted by The Journal after the meeting. He also confirmed he has no intentions for running for the school board post in the November election.
The position became vacant following the resignation of the late Billy McCord in June. A special election is scheduled for November to elect a representative to complete the current term.
Qualifying has begun school board election with a deadline of Sept. 4 to submit a petition containing signatures of 50 registered voters from within the district.
David Hill, of Banner, also stated his intention of running for the seat at the last board meeting. Circuit Clerk Carlton Baker said no one has officially qualified.
The election is a non-partisan election, meaning all candidates will run as independents and there will be no runoff – top vote getter wins.
In other news from Monday’s special called meeting, the board approved three student transfers – Kylee Fletcher and Kayson Broughman from Calhoun City to Bruce; and Sydney Stephan from Bruce to Calhoun City.
Personnel actions approved were the hiring of Paula Monaghan as K4 teacher at BES; Monica Ross transfering into Josh Dowdy’s position; Krista Wilbanks hired as teacher replacing Monica Ross; Anne Claire Mullen hired as teacher replacing Neil Buhrmaster who resigned.