Vocational Programs Focus of Stephens Co. BOE Forum

Candidates for the Stephens County Board of Education talk vocational education and more at a town hall forum.

All four candidates running for the two seats up for election on the Board of Education appeared at Thursday’s forum at the Schaefer Center in downtown Toccoa, sponsored by the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce and WNEG Radio.

The candidates were asked about whether the school system was putting out a lack of qualified workers and what should be done about it.

At-Large Board of Education seat incumbent Tony Crunkleton said he disagrees with that question and notion.

“We have an apprenticeship program at the high school, health occupations goes to the hospital or home health care, they go out and work in the community,” said Crunkleton. “We have a work program. The school board has two students we hire at the superintendent’s office. I disagree with the premise we are not spending money there.”

Meanwhile, Board of Education District 3, Post 2 incumbent Jim Ledford said he also takes issue with that idea.

“Our children are coming out with good skills, welding, auto mechanics, beauticians, nurse trainees,” said Ledford. “I think the school is doing a great job with our children and I would like to say this, in every category in the state, we are above the state average.”

However, Crunkleton’s challenger, Len Stovall, said more money needs to be put in to both vocational education programs and their facilities at the high school.

“I would love to see our vocational education building remodeled,” said Stovall. “There are students that are taking those courses. They need everything they can have. They need all the same benefits as everybody else to get the best education and go into whatever field they are going into.”

Ledford’s challenger, Mark Smith, also feels that vocational programs need more attention in the Stephens County school system.

“I think we need to take that ELOST money and apply it to things like vocational education,” said Smith. “Make our students better equipped to go out into the world and in the real world. I have three children. Each one of my children is different. One may go to college, one may want to go to a technical college, and one may want to go to work as I did when I got of high school. I feel we need to equip each one of our students equally and not just the ones that want to go to college.”

The candidates were also asked whether they would sell property around Toccoa Elementary School to Evan Oglesby for his E.O. Foundation. Ledford and Crunkleton say they would not support that, while Smith and Stovall say they would consider it.

Ledford, Smith, and Stovall also say they would like to see Eastanollee Elementary re-opened if possible, while Crunkleton says that he would not close that door.

Both races will be decided in the May primary as all are running as Republicans with no Democratic opposition.