A former Fayetteville High School debate coach who was fired last year filed as a candidate for the School Board to challenge incumbent Tim Hudson in Zone 5.
In Springdale, Kathy McFetridge, a 22-year member of the Springdale School Board, drew challenger Henry Pudder Hudson for the Zone 3 seat.
McFetridge said she wants to continue to serve because new projects, such as Race to the Top and School of Innovation, are starting in the district. Hudson is making his first bid for a school board seat. He said he was prompted to run to give back to the community he has lived in for 16 years. He has a son who will enter sixth grade in August.
Tim Hollis was the last candidate to file, arriving in the Washington County Clerk's Office at 11:55 a.m. He was in the county clerk's office to register to vote earlier Tuesday, County Clerk Becky Lewallen said. He was removed from the voter roll when he moved to Garfield in Benton County more than 10 years ago, Lewallen said.
Hollis said he "just moved" to Fayetteville so he could run for the School Board. A candidate must be a resident and a registered voter in the electoral zone of the school district where he seeks office, according to state law.
The School Board fired Hollis, who taught at the high school for 27 years. He filed a lawsuit claiming wrongful termination which is pending before the Arkansas Supreme Court.
He said he wanted to be a voice for the teachers and wants to bring greater transparency to the board. Teachers need a voice for any changes affecting their workload, he said. An example was the division of the high school into small learning communities.
"Teachers had to implement that and it affects them immensely," Hollis said.
Hollis narrowly qualified as a candidate because one of the signers of his petition refused to include his birth date. Lewallen contacted County Attorney George Butler who, in a quick review of the law, determined the birth date wasn't required. That gave Hollis the 20 signatures required to get his name on the ballot.
Hudson filed for re-election Thursday. Hudson has been on the board for 10 years. He had no comment about his challenger.
All school board terms are five years. Filing for candidacy ended at noon Tuesday.
Incumbents in Farmington, Elkins, Prairie Grove, Lincoln and Greenland have filed for re-election without opposition.
They are Jeff Oxford, Farmington Seat 2; Bryan Delozier, Elkins Seat 2; Jerry Coyle, Prairie Grove Seat 3; J.C. Dobbs, Prairie Grove Seat 6; Kendra Moore, Lincoln Zone 1; Patrick Anderson, Greenland Zone 4; and Daniel Marzoni, Greenland Zone 5.
Daryl Quinton, West Fork School Board member, isn't seeking re-election to the Seat 2 position. Brad O. Hardin filed for the seat and is running without opposition.
Jennifer Price, Washington County election coordination, said the Election Commission will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday for ballot draw for the Springdale and Fayetteville elections.
The last day to register to vote in the school election is Aug. 18. Early voting will start Sept. 9 and the annual school election is Sept. 16.
NW News on 07/09/2014