School board candidates face off in Oak Ridge
Anderson County Board of Education member Glenda Langenberg is running as a Re- publican and challenger David Miller as a Democrat for Board of Education District 8. (photo:Ben Pounds )
They’re running in separate primaries now, but the two answered questions at a recent League of Women Voters event in Oak Ridge.
Langenberg in her opening statement emphasized her existing achievements.
She spoke of school security measures with new bulletproof windows and doors, along with new locks and cameras. She also mentioned school resource officers and registered nurses, and of the schools’ computers and WiFi in rural areas, provided through Comcast.
Transportation and lunches, she said, are free.
She also spoke of her work with the special service director to help the homeless population, and her work with the juvenile court to help families “that don’t realize the importance of sending their kid to school.”
She said she received the Master School Board Member Award from the Tennessee School Boards Association, and said she has worked well with her fellow school board members.
Miller spoke of his experience as a teacher who taught for more than 45 years before retiring.
“I’m here to pay it forward,” he said. “The reason I’m here is the people [who] taught me.”
He described public education as “the key to democracy in this country,” and said he supports teachers being able to make more decisions.
Miller said he moved to Oak Ridge two years ago to be near a former student, who was a refugee from Kosovo. Miller was his legal guardian. He said that whether he wins or not, he will continue to raise funds for scholarships.
The first question from the audience was, “Should all parts of American history be taught in schools?”
“I certainly think American history should be taught in schools; I don’t know what you’re referring to about all parts,” Langenberg said.
“I’ll agree with Glenda,” Miller said.
The second question involved vouchers.
Both candidates said that they are against them.
Miller described them as an “opening statement” leading to privatizing education in this country.”
“I’m absolutely against vouchers,” he said. “I feel they take away money from public education.
“A bad idea moving towards an even worse idea,” he said.
Langenburg said she is also “totally against vouchers.”
“No. 1, I feel like it leaves children out, and I’m not for that,” she said.
“And I don’t think it offers very much for special-ed children.”
She added that she believes school vouchers take money away from public education.
The last question involved sexually explicit books in taxpayer-funded libraries and school libraries.
“I am for books that are age-appropriate for all children,” Langenberg said.
Miller said he wasn’t sure about the definition of sexually explicit.
“I would be against that,” he said of sexually explicit materials.
“But basically, my position on banning books is that you have a right to have your children read the books that you want them to read.
“I have the right to have my children read the books that I want them tor read.
“And I don’t think I can impose my values on you, and I don’t think you should impose your values on me,” he said.