Pool 25' round, 10,500 gal. Doughboy, new pump & liner, $950 or best offer. Call 858-5166.

Set of Engraved Samurai Swords and 8 piece Engraved Knife collection set. Asking $175. Call 858-5052.

Stuffed animals, dolls, small toys, baby clothes to size 6, a few housewares, VHS recording tapes, knick-knacks, & books, all $ .50 to $3, old 3-wheel beach bicycle. 7 days a week ‘til sold! Hwy 80, west of Pooler in Eden, Call 748-0994, 10AM-10PM only, please.

Bowflex Ultimate 2 Home Gym, used very little, asking $1,000, obo. Call 964-6413 after 6 PM, Pooler.

25 HP Briggs & Stratton 42” riding mower, good shape. $500. Call 748-9226 or 604-1885.

THE SPIRIT WORKS!

Questions for the Candidates for District 7 School Board

1. What do you see as the key issues facing the 7th District schools, students, and parents?

Cowart: The keys issues facing the 7th District Schools that I have heard from Students and parents are School safety, School facilities and oversight of School District finances.

Gerbsch: I believe the rapid growth we’re experiencing in southwest and west Chatham County will pose both opportunities and challenges for our schools and families. One opportunity just presented to us by the passage of E-SPLOST is for three new schools to be built in West Chatham County. It is crucial, though, that these schools be designated as “neighborhood” schools—those serving the families and students living nearby.

One issue which the Superintendent’s staff recently mentioned at a public forum is the need to redistrict elementary schools across the school system. The county’s population has grown and shifted significantly since 1986, the last time redistricting of elementary students was completed.

2. What have you done, prior to this election, to improve our public schools?

Gerbsch: In 2000 I was appointed to the Community Advisory Group for the Savannah-Chatham Superintendent Search. In 2001, I worked with nine other business leaders, through the Leadership Savannah program, with at-risk students at Hubert Middle School. I am a founding member of the Savannah Fund for Excellence in Public Education, chairing its grant committee in 2002-2004. In 2004-2006, I served on the Governing Board of Oglethorpe Charter School, including one year as Vice President of Finance.

Cowart: For the last 18 years I have been involved in the local schools. As a parent I have actively supported the principals, teachers and parents. As a City Councilman I worked with school board officials to assist in the planning and implementation of West Chatham Elementary and West Chatham Middle Schools.

Having served as a PTA officer I have worked with school staff to improve parental involvement and communication. When West Chatham Middle School was threatened, I was chosen by the parents as liaison to communicate with the school staff, local authorities to keep them abreast of the situation. As a parent, I have volunteered in many activities, including being Master of Ceremonies at a Talent show, sitting in a dunking booth, dance chaperone and DJ. As school district Risk Manager, I worked to improve school safety and to provide quality educational facilities.

3. What will you do as our representative to get parents more involved with their children’s schools and their education?

Cowart: As representative of the district, I will work to get parents involved by attending PTA meetings; I will promote better communication and work to make parents feel that they are an integral part of the education process.

Gerbsch: This is the million dollar question educators and community leaders have been asking for years—with no easy answers. The research, though, is overwhelming in showing us that children and teens attend school regularly, complete homework more often, perform better on tests, are less likely to drop-out, and graduate at higher rates if a parent is involved in their education.

I will work with our Superintendent to engage our teachers, school staff, parents and community groups to dialogue and find ways to meaningfully involve parents in the educational life of our schools. I believe extra attention needs to be given to develop partnerships with parents in our middle schools, where local students seem to struggle most.

4. What do you see as the key responsibilities as our School Board Representative?

Gerbsch: • Set policy.

• Empower the Superintendent in his role as CEO by providing clear direction and sufficient latitude to implement Board policies to achieve measurable improvements throughout the school system.

• Accountability. Hold the Superintendent accountable for sustained district improvement thru a clear, transparent system of accountability. Be answerable to the taxpayers and citizens by using data and careful deliberation to make decisions.

• Visibility. Be the public face of district achievement, positively representing the district in formal and informal functions in the community.

Cowart: The key responsibilities of School Board Representative are to represent the interests of the parents, children, educators and citizens of the district.

The primary objective should be to provide the policy, procedures and resources to provide each child with an opportunity to receive a quality education. Learning is a collaborative between the schools, parents and students and the School Board needs to support the building and strengthening of those at every opportunity.

5. What steps will you take to keep the community involved and informed of issues facing the Savannah Chatham School Board?

Cowart: In order to keep the community involved and informed of issues facing the Savannah Chatham School Board I would improve communication with local elected officials as well as work with the PTAs to provide better communications between the School Board and the citizens.

Gerbsch: As I’ve done for the past year, I’ll continue to attend periodic meetings of the city councils in our four municipalities (Bloomingdale, Garden City, Pooler and Port Wentworth.) I’ll listen to local concerns and give updates on school district issues affecting neighborhood schools and families.

Additionally as the Bloomingdale City Council and Bloomingdale Elementary school did earlier this spring, I’ll encourage municipal governments to hold a joint town hall-type meeting annually. This is a great way to bring out families in support of our schools and local government. Touring the school, watching the kids perform a short play or sing, having the principal give an update on the school’s successes and needs would better inform all citizens about our children and schools. In turn, the city council would give updates on public parks, sewer and water, roads, zoning and other important community information.

6. What goals do you have for the School Board in the next four years?

Gerbsch: My first goal is to establish good working relationships with all the other school board members so we can quickly familiarize ourselves with the policies, budget and performance to date on the goals of our school system. If a long-term (5 years or more) strategic plan exists, I’d like for the board to review it together to see if we’re on track. If no long-term plan exists, we need to create one!

By the end of the four year term, I will expect to see the new elementary, middle and high school open in West Chatham County, and a new building for Oglethorpe Charter School open and serving 500 students (i.e. capacity for this top-performing school is currently 390 students due to space limitations.) I’d also like to have serious discussions underway for a new charter school targeting at-risk students to form and open within four years, potentially being housed at the former Oglethorpe Charter school campus (or other available school site.)

Cowart: My goals for the School Board for the next four years are to see a new high school a reality, see an improvement in school safety and to see additional scrutiny of the budget to provide quality educational services at the maximum benefit to the taxpayer.

7. How urgent is the need for a new high school in West Chatham County, and what will you do to make that a reality?

Cowart: A new high school in West Chatham County is a priority. As a former City Councilman, I have seen the astounding growth in our area and the stress it puts on existing facilities and infrastructure. We need to plan ahead for the needs of the students in providing the facilities needed to serve our area for years to come. Years prior to the day I announced my candidacy, I have stated that a new high school is a priority and I will work tirelessly to assist in any way to make that a reality.

Gerbsch: A new high school in southwest or West Chatham County was approved by the voters in the September E-SPLOST, so by law it must be built in the next six years. Because of the rapid growth of families with school age children in our area, I will lobby for the new high school to be open in four years or less.

8. What educational background and career experience do you have to qualify you as the best candidate to represent District 7 on the Chatham Savannah School Board? Why are you the best candidate?

Gerbsch: I’ve devoted most of my professional and volunteer life to serving the needs of children and families. During my 18-year career leading children’s charities in St. Louis and Savannah, I gained experience in managing large organizations with million dollar budgets operating in multiple sites. I’ve developed organizational policies, strategic plans, outcome measures to assess program effectiveness, and conducted performance reviews of staff. Working for years with diverse groups of stakeholders provided me with solid skills in consensus-building, an important skill to have as an elected member of the school board. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a minor in business from the University of Illinois.

In both my volunteer work and in my role as President & CEO of Parent & Child, Inc., I’ve attended nearly 20 Savannah-Chatham school board meetings in recent years. This level of participation gives me a solid understanding of the work and processes of the board.

Cowart: I am the best candidate for 7th District School Board seat because for the last 23 years, I have lived in this district. For the last 18 years, I have had children in district schools (one still attends). I have served the community as a City Councilman and PTA officer. I have worked with the School Board as Risk Manager. I have worked with Georgia School Boards Association and Georgia Municipal Association. I am a graduate of public education and attended Brewton Parker College and Armstrong Atlantic State University.

However, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize we have problems to address. By using common sense approaches and by listening to the parents, teachers, principals and local elected officials and citizens in the 7th District we can work together to resolve those issues and provide the opportunities for a top quality educational experience for all children, not just in 7th District but across Chatham County.