I am a teacher at CCC&TI and an active member at Boone United Methodist Church. The following questions were sent to each candidate running for a position on the Board of Education: Provided bio: My career experience includes 13 years in the Watauga County Schools, 4 years as executive director of the Childrens Council of Watauga County, 12 years with the City Managers Office of Raleigh, and 4 years with the Budget Office of the City of Durham. We will be convening at the Watauga County Courthouse, in Courtroom 1 on March 11th, 2023 to elect officers, vote on resolutions, and rally the base to build on our successes from the 2022 Elections! Improve? Matthew.Snyder@watgov.org, Board Members Our schools do not have the funding or infrastructure to solve these problems alone. Where is my polling place? The landfill needs improvements to make the process safer, smoother and more user friendly for our citizens. in Downtown Boone. Lenoir, North Carolina (February 24, 2023) - The Board of Directors of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation has appointed Angie Miller to fill the Watauga District Board seat that was left open when Hope Caroselli recently stepped down from the Board following a move outside the cooperative's service area. How will you help improve internet access to families in Watauga County who need it for school, especially with online classes happening? Monday - Friday I know our current school system leadership is aware that we need to create a more diverse workforce and that this awareness shapes their recruitment efforts. Anyone can contact me at John.welch@watgov.org. James Hill- Secretary The men and women of Watauga County Schools provide frontline care and support to our students. The university continues to admit more students, and while they are adding dorm space it still will be insufficient. We have two sons: Hamilton, a senior finance major at Appalachian State University, who will graduate in December; Anderson is a freshman and is playing football for the Mountaineers and plans to major in business. Knowing your candidate choices in advance and being familiar with the ballot will help your voting experience go more quickly. Where plausible and appropriate, we should also consider policies and systems that continue to provide transportation, programming, meaningful activities, technical support and relationships for those who need it the most. Coffee and biscuits will be available while supplies last, so make sure and get there early. We need a five-year plan so that citizens can know if they have a medical emergency, they will receive care and transport as quickly as possible. Ballotpedia features 395,415 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. (If this job is in fact in your jurisdiction, then you may be using a Proxy or VPN to access this site, and to progress further, you should change your connectivity to another mobile device or PC). We continue to have demands from the state that affect our social services and working to fund them. Job in Houston - Harris County - TX Texas - USA, 77246. Job in Dallas - Dallas County - TX Texas - USA, 75215. I have been honored to serve as the chairman of the board since 2016. One of the most important efforts has been to continue offering the opportunity for free school meals when schools have been closed, including delivery of these meals by school buses and offering to-go meals at selected sites. Position: CDL-A Truck Driver - Average $85,000/Year - Benefits + $10k Sign-On. The Planning Board also acts as the review board for subdivision plat approval. We are both multi-generational Watauga County natives. All candidates are running for the Board of Education: Cole said he wants to focus on infrastructure, school safety and mental health of students. Not sure what address you are registered at? The Boone Area and Blowing Rock Chambers of Commerce hosted the 2022 Watauga County Meet the Candidates Forum on Thursday, October 6th at the Appalachian Theatre in Downtown Boone. The Talent Services team is dedicated to candidate advocacy in the technology market and is specialized in cities across North America. }); Name Watauga County Board of Elections Suggest Edit Address 842 West King Street Boone , North Carolina , 28607 Phone 828-265-8061 Fax 828-265-8068 Map of Watauga County Board of Elections $("div.vis_widget_title").click(function(){ Hanifan said she believes that every schools safety could be improved by having a resource officer. if ($(this).next('.vis_widget_table').is(":hidden")) { if (typeof VoterInfobyState_Toggle === 'undefined') { I should be present, listen and accept people where they are on lifes journey. Click [show] on the table below for examples: Following the 2020 presidential election, 47.1% of North Carolinians lived in one of the state's 22 Solid Democratic counties, which voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election from 2012 to 2020, and 46.3% lived in one of 68 Solid Republican counties. If I am elected County Commissioner, I am committed to work unreservedly for all citizens of Watauga County to ensure that our law enforcement, first responders, our school system and all. Our school personnel have worked very hard and very creatively to try to address the needs of lower income families during this pandemic. What do you see as the most pressing needs for infrastructure or capital projects in the county? We also helped set up a fund for businesses to be able to get a loan to help them bridge the gap. addressed before we can push the traffic flow out into the rural areas. Listing for: HealthTrust Workforce Solutions. The Boone Chamber (of Commerce) has done an incredible job in helping us to provide forums for us to share and help each other. 2023 Watauga County, NC, all rights reserved. He said he wants to make sure there are student resource officers in every school, as well as making sure that counselors are available to students when needed. I want to revisit the Saturday-only free dumping. I plan to apply that same work ethic as a County Commissioner. By treating everyone with kindness and love. }. State executives | It is imperative that they know the board members both care about their dedication and sacrifice and understand that the board of education will support them in making the best decisions for our students. } What was the voter registration deadline? the whole area is safer and easier to use. I will review proposed policies and practices with careful attention to their possible impacts on racial equity, and seek to change those which unfairly affect minority students or personnel. I have also taken great pride in offering open and honest government for all citizens. Get Involved WATAUGA COUNTY North Carolina. This in-person voting allows voters to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day. I hope that everyone in our community will follow guidelines set by our local health leaders, our governor, and the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The good news so far is that the local economy has bounced back this summer, to an extent. Retention bonuses and pay raises are great ways to get people to stay, Ashcraft said. As a seventh-generation native growing up in Watauga County and being part of the farming industry, I have learned the value of hard work, and know the dedication and sacrifice it takes to keep things moving forward. The increase in housing also brings the need for various business services to support a growing population. They determine how to teach whats required to be taught, but they are a point of entry but always the very first thing that if a parent has a concern about what their child is being exposed to teach attendees is to talk with the childs teacher, Childers said. WATAUGA COUNTY North Carolina. if (window.jQuery) { In health care, you learn the importance of listening, viewing facts and circumstances, understanding options and seeking possible solutions. How will you continue to help lower income families especially with the uncertainty of COVID-19? Our board has prioritized investments in improving Watauga County Schools facilities, expanding public safety services by adding ambulance coverage and improving emergency communication infrastructure. The Watauga Democrat, based in Boone, North Carolina, originated in July 1888 as a megaphone for the Democratic Party of Watauga County. I am very proud of my record and will continue to work each day to make Watauga County a desirable place to live, learn, work and visit. } I am married and have a 12-year-old daughter. Our members in Watauga County have endorsed a slate of trustworthy public-school advocates for the Watauga County school board. We then have the expertise and the learning opportunities that Appalachian can provide to these businesses to start up and give students valuable training to use when they graduate. Ashcraft noted the increase in mental health issues faced by students throughout the county due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nazi flag raised outside Temple of the High Country, campus and community respond, Opinion: You cant separate the art and the artist, Boone Barbies light up Ransoms final week, Mavis Staples brings positive vibrations to the High Country, Mountaineers enter conference tournament as 9th seed, Mile walk in heels brings awareness, funding to OASIS, Boy Band Night brings pop favorites to Legends, University seminar discusses rise in antisemitism, Historically Black community looks to preserve, educate community, Black faculty, staff create an environment of support, Plant-based cafe finds new roots on King Street, Winter weather causes limited service, parking spaces, Ransom announces closure, brewing company to take its place, Auntie Annes, Jamba to open location in Boone, Boone Town Council passes ordinance protecting LGBTQ+, natural hair, The Student News Site of Appalachian State University, Your email address will not be published. Yourvoter registration is linked to your residential address. Also, board members are a part of the greater community, thus making it important to be available for families and students. North Carolina requires citizens to register with the Secretary of State in order to vote in local, North Carolina, and federal elections. These routine processes are required by state and federal laws. Our school system was already a leader in implementing instructional technology, providing laptops and other devices to students well before most school systems in NC. As great as this is, it is unfortunately still not accessible for all of Watauga County students or staff. Matt Walpole - Member Click, Non-Weapons Fingerprinting (jobs/adoption etc), USPS National Delivery Planning Standards, Vital Records FAQ'sBirth, Death, Marriage Certificates, Watauga County Economic Development Commission. if ($(this).next('div.vis_widget_table').is(":hidden")) { The members of BACC invite and encourage you to join! What I would like to do is reassess the type of testing that we use. For those unable to attend in person, this event will be broadcast live, in its entirety, on SkyBest TV, YouTube TV, and WATA (1450 AM / 96.5 FM), and the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce website. .widget-toggle-tabs li.panel > a:after {font-family: 'Glyphicons Halflings';content: '\e113';float: right;color: grey}.widget-toggle-tabs li.panel > a.collapsed:after {content: '\e080'} Working and learning from home has absolutely identified areas with little or no internet access. Also, with support from community groups and companies, hotspots have been offered to help many students gain connectivity at home. Address, Phone Number, and Fax Number for Watauga County Board of Elections, a Board Of Elections, at West King Street, Boone NC. I was elected to the Watauga County Board of Education in 2010 and the Watauga County Board of Commissioners in 2012 and 2016. chevron.addClass('fa-chevron-down'); These committees dont determine whats taught. Candidate Marshall Ashcraft (Nonpartisan) Gary L. Childers (Nonpartisan) Chad Cole (Nonpartisan) Jay Fenwick (Nonpartisan) Jennie Hanifan (Nonpartisan) Dustin Cole Kerley (Nonpartisan) Click HERE to update your address. Job specializations: . Kerley emphasized the need for communication about book replacement policies, explaining how parents should be in the know. Fenwick discussed three different aspects to deal with issues that pose threats to school safety: prevent, respond and recover.. With an, increase in the population, the calls are increasing as well, so it would dramatically reduce the. Kerley also explained how he believes it is a teachers responsibility to set reasonable limits on classroom content. Here are statements from the four candidates: Steve Combs, Ron Henries, Barbara Kinsey and Brenda. Now Accepting Applications for 2023 Business After Hours! The pandemic has unearthed several shortfalls in local communities across the state and connectivity is one of the largest gaps we face. we can, and support them. Showrooms with gas logs, water heaters and more are located in each Blue Ridge Energy district office. If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required? For the past eight years I have had the pleasure of serving on the Watauga County Planning Board. Moss Brennan (he/him) is a senior journalism major with a minor in political science and media studies. Businesses have reported that business has been back to more in line with what a typical year would be. Sign up to stay up-to-date with the WataugaOnline.com email list. Fenwick emphasized the way Watauga County Schools have closed the learning gap other counties are experiencing. Im on numerous nonprofit boards in the area and volunteer my time as well with OASIS, Hunger and Health Coalition and Hospitality House. These are the most pressing needs I see for Watauga County: We really need broadband Internet access for all of our citizens. With virtual learning in the public school system due to the pandemic, it continues to be a challenge for students to have good Internet access during this remote school setting. Cole believes that all students should have access to books that both fit the curriculum, and also ones that fit their beliefs. This forum is not intended to be a debate between candidates, but rather an opportunity for the citizenry to hear each candidates position on topics important to all. It is their recommendation that you vote for all three this election! The Town of Boone has made it nearly impossible and prohibitivly expensive to build within the city limits so the growth will be in the county. Click HERE for Map 2, New River 3 Voting Precinct Map with Construction Route - Click HERE, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88013088006?pwd=aHRscm5Cd25KaFU3WE9EWEtXaW5lZz09. Full Time position. Watauga County Explore North Carolina's counties for court services and information, such as courthouse locations, jury service, contacts, and more. Provided bio: My name is Ronny Holste. Full Time. if ($('#vis_xs_indicator').is(':hidden')){ As a resident of Watauga County, I am grateful for these extra mile efforts of our personnel and as a board member I would support them. Kerley emphasized bringing in more personnel to work and solve issues on the front lines of education. What does my sample ballot look like? All membership applications for the BACC must be approved by the Board of Directors. In addition to being an educational issue, it is also a barrier to much needed economic opportunity for families and to economic development for rural and poor communities. You cant live here for cheap so its hard to live and work here, Kerley said. County elections and candidates November 8, 2022 (General) Watauga Watauga County Board of Commissioners District 1 Angela Laws King (D) Todd Castle (R) Watauga County Board of Commissioners District 3 Billy Kennedy (D) Braxton Eggers (R) Watauga County Board of Commissioners District 4 Larry Turnbow (D) Melissa Goins Tausche (R) Job specializations: HR/Recruitment Recruiter; . Comments (-1) He has worked on The Appalachian since freshman Abi Pepin (she/her) is a senior journalism major, political science minor, from Concord, NC. We need to find weekdays to add back. But I would like to get even two officers in every school, Cole said. } The following candidates ran in the general election for Watauga County Board of Education on November 8, 2022. Watauga County Election Watauga County Election 09 November 2022 Hits: 1099 Print Email GoBlueRidge.Net and High Country Radio is proud to offer five radio stations with content created specifically for the High Country. Since 2016 explained how he believes it is a teachers responsibility to set reasonable limits classroom! We really need broadband internet access to books that both fit the curriculum and... Of education on November 8, 2022 Route - click here, kerley said. the pressing... Far is that the local economy has bounced back this summer, to an.! Water heaters and more are located in each Blue Ridge Energy district office routine are! County Board of education so watauga county candidates sure and get there early to register with the will... 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