Iredell-Statesville Board of Education members are elected from seven districts.  Fourteen of the county’s 29 voting precincts are divided among two or more  districts, making it a challenge for voters to know which district they live in.

School Board elections are non-partisan. There is no run-off election—the top vote-getter in a multi-candidate race is elected even if he or she receives less than a majority of the total votes cast.

School Board members serve staggered four-year terms; the seats in the even-numbered districts are on the ballot this year. There are contested races in Districts 2 and 4. Incumbent Charles Kelly is running unopposed in District 6.

District 2

School Board District 2 covers areas west and north of  Statesville and includes all of Concord Township and parts of Shiloh and Bethany Townships.

Incumbent Dr. David Cash, a Statesville physician and Chairman of the Board,  is seeking re-election. Three other candidates are competing for the seat.

To all appearances, Cash has been a strong supporter of Superintendent Terry Holliday. Many of Holliday’s policies, such as the Baldrige management system, have been controversial. The proposed purchase of the former Dana building, next to some of the worst traffic congestion in the county, was questioned by many citizens. Some critics say school officials have abandoned or demolished buildings that could have been used or renovated. There seems to be no limit to the amount of money requested by Holliday and the school board.

It may be a sign of discontent with the current school administration that three other candidates have filed for Cash’s seat on the board.

Morris Roseman is a retired business owner, truck driver, and farmer. He served on the Iredell County Board of Education in the early 1990s.  Roseman recently was active in a successful effort to place a plaque with the National Motto, “In God We Trust,” in every classroom in the ISS and Mooresville systems.

Roseman says he disagrees with the lucrative employment contracts the school board has given Holliday, and believes some teachers have felt pressured because they had disagreements with the administration about the Baldrige program and other matters.  He favors keeping existing neighborhood schools.

Roseman is plain-spoken and honest and will stand up for what he believes. If elected to the board, he would not hesitate to question Holliday on actions with which he disagreed.

Marshall Stewart is a former teacher in the Iredell-Statesville system. Judging from his response to a candidate questionnaire, he appears to have well-thought-out positions on the issues.

Stewart says that while there are some positives to the Baldrige program, it has burdened teachers with an undue amount of paperwork and caused the loss of good teachers. He says the system has sold off buildings that should have been renovated and kept in use.

We know little about John Miller, the fourth candidate in the race.

District 4

School Board District 4 covers the southern half of Statesville and includes all of Statesville precincts 3 and 6, parts of Statesville precincts 1, 2, and 5,  and part of Chambersburg-A precinct.

Incumbent Keith Williams is running for re-election. He appears to have been supportive of Holliday. Williams is facing a challenge from Mark James.

James is a former teacher in the Iredell-Statesville system who had differences with Superintendent Holiday on number of issues. He is now teaching in Rowan County.

James says he is does not support the Baldrige program, that his experience was that the lead teacher system was not helpful, and that the money spent on Baldrige would be better used to ease overcrowded classrooms and purchase  supplies.

He said that existing buildings should be maintained and upgraded when  necessary. “Schools should not be torn down unless they have been deemed dangerous for occupancy.”