Etowah County Board of Education Place 5 Q&A: Incumbent Doug Sherrod and Lucas Hallmark

Incumbent Doug Sherrod, a local businessman, is being challenged by Sardis City Council member Lucas Hallmark, also the sergeant in charge of Etowah County's school resource officer program, for the Place 5 seat on the county's Board of Education in Tuesday's Republican primary. The winner will face no Democratic opposition in the November general election.

Each candidate was asked the same three questions. Here are their answers (the candidates are listed alphabetically and the responses may have received minor editing):

What are the major short-term needs for Etowah County Schools?

HALLMARK: To make sure all projects that are currently started are completed as planned. To assure we have working access control and camera systems in each and every one of our county schools. To communicate with the administrators to assure they have needed resources to be able to perform their job to the best of their ability.

SHERROD: If by short term you mean a month or less, then our focus systemwide is on getting our students walking across the various platforms and preparing all other students for the next grade level.

Short term needs for the past couple years have been ever changing as we were dealing with COVID-19. As a board member, I have supported efforts to keep our school open for classroom instruction all while doing everything possible with funds we were allocated to keep our students and faculty safe.

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What should be the major long-term objectives for Etowah County Schools?

HALLMARK: To continue to search for grants and funding for needed projects within our school system. To provide funding for the essentials our schools are responsible for obtaining, so their fundraising efforts can be used solely on amenities, rather than necessities.

SHERROD: I have always been a big supporter of career tech. One long-term objective is to continue improving our facilities and keep building relationships with our local and statewide colleges so our students can be prepared to enter into the profession of their choice soon after graduation from high school.

Another long-term objective would be to always look for ways to improve the entire environment in which our students are learning, allowing them to excel in the classroom. This is why in person instruction is so critical and e-learning days should be few.

As a board member, I am a steward of the taxpayers money. We deal within a budget of more than $80 million. It has always been my objective to make sure we, as board members, work with city, county and state officials to create a more cohesive relationship. The education of our children receives great benefit from all of us working together, and all of us benefit greatly from our children getting the very best education possible. The funds we receive from the county, state and the federal government should always be spent in a manner that is beneficial to our students and faculty.

I feel strongly that we should always listen to the voices of the parents, grandparents and guardians of our students. I will never object to having open discussion in our board meetings and would like to make it even easier for them to come before us. We are just like you, I have grandchildren in the system, my children graduated in our school system, so I understand the importance of being heard.

Why do you think you're the best candidate for the job you're seeking?

HALLMARK: I plan to use not only my years as a council member but my years as a law enforcement officer to be an advocate for the children of Etowah County. In my 25 years of marriage, one thing my wife has taught me, even through the mistakes we make, anything worth having is worth fighting for. I plan to fight for our children, and provide them with a safe learning environment.

SHERROD: I have served on the Board of Education for Place 5 for two consecutive terms. I do not consider myself to be what one would say is a politician. However, I will state that I am a proud Republican, a conservative Christian a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

My role as a business owner of a multi-million dollar a year company for more than 30 years in Etowah County has provided the Board of Education a good business perspective on many issues that have been put before us. I feel the board and our system receives benefit from my expertise in that field.

In the past couple of years, the board has been faced with some difficult decisions dealing with COVID-19. We were tasked with making decisions that affected us all. I feel the decisions that I have supported during this time have been instrumental to keeping our schools functioning while providing them with the necessary tools to keep everyone as safe as possible. As stated, it has always been my goal to keep our schools open for in-person instruction. I stood firm in my belief that our parents had the right to decide for their children if they should or should not wear a mask. I will never be in favor of placing mandates on our parents for their children.

I have supported new schools and various construction projects across the county. Within my first term I fulfilled a campaign promise to see a new middle school built in my district. We are in the process of building a new school in Hokes Bluff, building a much needed addition at Whitesboro, new air conditioning units in all gymnasiums, Chromebooks in the hands of every single student in our system, filtration systems system wide. I helped with design and implementation of a systemwide energy plan that saved the taxpayers millions of dollars. At the expense of my company not being able to bid on the project, I helped design a door-access system county wide as well as a new CCTV system being implemented at this time.

I have always supported our teachers, administrators, coaches, lunchroom staff, custodians and everyone else helping to provide for the education of our children.

I simply ask that you take a look back at my support for your school system over the past several years and I hope you will decide to support me for another term based on what has been accomplished and the dedication I have given not only to the district I represent, but the entire district.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Etowah County Board of Education Place 5: Doug Sherrod, Lucas Hallmark