(Editor’s note: The following responses are from identical questionnaires The Eagle submitted to all candidates running for positions that are being contested in the upcoming election. Candidates vying for each position are listed in alphabetical order. Note that some positions uncontested – these do not appear here.)
Name: Cynthia Lynn (Cindy) Austin
Address: 47 Desert Road, Reva, VA 22735
Age: 53
Occupation: Fourth grade teacher, United Christian Academy
Education: Clarksville High School, Clarksville, Tenn., 1976; Cosmetology degree/three years of study, Southeastern Free Will Baptist College, Wendell, N.C.
Spouse / children: Married to N. Davie Austin, pastor of Madison Baptist Church, employee of MWP. Two sons, Daniel E. Austin, maintenance tech, Plow & Hearth and David W. Austin, maintenance tech., Plow & Hearth
Churches / clubs / civic organizations: My husband and I were missionaries to the Republic of Moldova for eight years. We taught ESL Classes, worked in a Bible institute, taught and worked in summer camps and traveled Eastern Europe in efforts to teach and train young people to serve the Lord. I currently attend Madison Bible Baptist Church
Party affiliation: Independent
Two challenges you would face if elected and what you would do in response to each of these challenges:
1. The number one challenge I face is being a newcomer. Although it may be to my disadvantage to be new to this office as the new candidate, I do feel that there is a great need for another outlook and view in the area of our functioning school board. I commend those who take the time to get involved and seek to make a difference but many times being in one position to long can cause the outlook and focus on current needs to become cloudy. I will not come in with all the answers but will come into this office with new and fresh ideas to promote education.
2. The number two challenge I would face is to take the ideas I have put them into words and actions. I have worked with concerned parents about the educational progress of their children for the past 25 years. The educating of our children is vital to our progress as a rural county and this extends out to our state and nations progress as well. Our children are our future. I know that as school board members we do have a part in seeing that the educational progress of our young people is a direct reflection of how we use the resources given to us from our tax-paying citizens.
Why should people vote for you: I would be humbled by the votes of the citizens of Madison. Although I have never been engaged in the politics of Madison I do have some strong beliefs as to a direction we need to be going in the education of our young people. It seems that at times the focus has been taken off the testing levels of our students and it is alarming to me the number of students who are struggling in basic areas of learning yet more money is being funneled into the educational system. I do realize it takes money to produce an educational standard and to keep qualified teachers in out county but in some cases it is simply playing the system. If elected I would be a listener and do my best to contribute common sense ideas to produce productive graduates.
Name: James L. Nelson Jr.
Address: P.O. Box 5, Madison, VA 22727
Age: 63
Occupation: Independent contractor, Scott & Stringfellow LLC.
Education: BA in History from Virginia Military Institute; graduate of the Infantry School, Ft. Benning, Ga.
Spouse / Children: Married to Pamela Crigler Nelson; son, Lee Nelson, Madison County High School, 1996, VMI, 2000, North Carolina State, 2003; daughter: Sarah Nelson, Madison County High School, 1998, Virginia Tech, 2002.
Churches / clubs / civic organizations: Member of Hebron Lutheran Church, previous leadership positions with Pack and Troop 45, Boy Scouts of America, past member of the board of Hospice of the Rapidan, past president and current member of Culpeper Mid-Day Lions Club
Party affiliation: none
Name two challenges you would face if elected and what you would do in response to each of these challenges:
3. School employees have not had a pay raise in several years. If we are going to have good school, we need good teachers and we must pay them appropriately. I would work with the board of supervisors and the community to generate support for this funding.
4. The high school, middle school and primary school are in desperate need of renovation. I would work with the board of supervisors and community to secure support for the long term financing to accomplish these renovations.
Why people should vote for you: I have worked hard as a school board member and I know how to work as part of a team to provide the children of Madison County with a world class education. I believe very strongly that a child should not have to live in Fairfax, Chesterfield or Virginia Beach to receive a quality education. Children in Madison deserve the best and I will continue to do what I can to see that they get it.
Name: Tonya D. Taylor
Address: 8896 S. Blue Ridge Turnpike, Rochelle, VA
Age: 38
Occupation: Resource manager for IBM Global Services
Educational background: B.S. from University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce with concentrations in Accounting and Management Information Systems
Spouse / children: Married to Tim Taylor for 16 years and have three children, all currently in the Madison County school system
Church / clubs / civic organizations: member Spring Hill Baptist Church
Party affiliation: Independent
Name two challenges you would face if elected and what you would do in response to each of these challenges:
The major challenge that the school board will continue to face is budgetary constraints. Over the past several years, the school system has had declining revenues and the current school board has had to make very tough decisions about how to continually reduce expenses. I will continue to work towards identifying areas where we can recognize savings while continuing to preserve our core school programs and staff.
Another major challenge that the Madison school system is facing is the need for facilities upgrades. There have been ongoing studies and work performed that have identified areas which require significant upgrades within our school buildings and other school facilities. As recently publicized with the discontinued use of some school bleachers, we are at a point where upgrades are no longer optional, but rather are required for the safety of our students, teachers and community members who attend school events. I pledge continued diligence and focus on working in partnership with the board of supervisors towards a solution that enables us to strategically plan for and update our existing facilities.
Why should people vote for you: With three children in the Madison County public school system, I have a vested interest to work diligently for the continued excellence and targeted improvement of our schools. Continued focus on closely managing a budget that preserves our core school programs and staff, as well as long-term planning for facilities upgrades are essential to the future success of the Madison County Public school system. I will bring integrity and professionalism to the process of making the best decisions for our schools.
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