Lawrence Helms, 37, of Kannapolis is running for seat two on the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education.
“I feel our school board is yellow-spined not having the best interest of our students, teachers and administrators as foremost in their decision making,” Helms said, adding that he has four priorities: overturning Policy 6-8, implementing Rachel’s Challenge in every school, cutting one cent from every dollar spent by the district and becoming an English-only district.
Helms said he believes Policy 6-8, which allows Gay-Straight Alliance and similar groups to meet in the district’s schools, should be overturned because “the school system must stay out of the social issues debate and focus on education.”
“The school system should not be a place of social engineering,” he said.
Helms also believes Rachel’s Challenge, an anti-bullying campaign should be in every school.
“All students should be taught respect for each other, teachers and faculty,” he said.
“I believe a penny should be cut from every dollar spent in the budget. This would bring more responsibility to how we spend taxpayer money,” he added.
Cuts should not impact teacher salaries, though, he said.
Helms’ final platform is that the district should be an “English as first language” district.
He believes the board should pass a policy stating, “Although the Rowan Salisbury School System respects all cultures and encourages all to celebrate their heritage, the Rowan Salisbury school district will be an English speaking school district conducting all business and classes, except foreign language classes in high school, in English.”
Helms has a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a master’s degree and a doctorate in New Testament from Southern Evangelical Seminary.
In the past, he has served as a full-time professor at Foothills Christian College in Wilkesboro, a pastor and a painter.
Helms is single. He has a brother who lives in Kannapolis and another who lives in Concord.
Helms is running against Dean Hunter and L.A. Overcash for seat two. Phil Hardin, Dr. Richard Miller, W.F. Owens, Travis Allen, Kay Wright Norman and Jean Kennedy are also running for the board.