By Sarah Campbell
scampbell@salisburypost.com
The current chairman of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education will run for a third term.
Dr. Jim Emerson, 73, said the driving force behind his decision to seek re-election is his 14-year-old son, Ike, who will be a freshman at East Rowan High School this fall.
“I still have a child in school, and I still think I have something to offer,” he said.
But he said there is also some unfinished business he’d like to see through.
“Mostly, I would like to see the progress that we have made in technology, increasing student achievement and lowering the dropout rate,” he said.
Emerson said he’d also like to be around to see the district’s new downtown central office finished.
“That’s not my top priority,” he said. “My top priority is still making sure the kids have every opportunity to achieve and that we administer the funds we have equitably.”
If Emerson is elected for another term, he said he’d like to take a closer look at the money flowing into the system and examine whether those funds are being used effectively.
“I want to make sure that the dollars we are spending are achieving the results we expect to get,” he said. “I can’t say enough about (Superintendent) Dr. Judy Grissom and her staff going after grant money, so we’re going to make sure it’s paying off.”
Emerson joked that although he’s probably the oldest person on the board, he’s never fallen asleep during meeting and attends them all.
“I think I’m qualified to be there, and I have time to devote to it,” he said. “But what qualifies me most is having a kid in school.”
The east area seat is one of three up for grabs.
Newcomer Lynn Marsh will face incumbent Linda Freeze for slot representing the southeast area.
No one has filed for the Salisbury area seat, which is currently held by Bryce Beard.
Filing runs through Aug. 17. The filling fee is $5.