LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Why I’m running

To the Editor;
When I decided to run for the school board, I certainly did not do so without giving it a great deal of thought. I have been concerned for several years over the general condition of our schools. It seems more and more that our children are expected to all fit within a certain mold; to dress the same, to learn at the same pace, and to learn in the same way. Standardized tests I do not believe were ever meant to have evolved into what they are today. Our children are given tests where they are all required to read a passage and interpret it exactly the same way. I do not feel this is good for our children. I believe we as a community need to work towards teaching our children that it is desirable to think outside of the box. We should be encouraging our children to think beyond what is right before them, and look toward solutions for our future. Cookie cutter children are not good thinkers.
There are so many issues that our schools are faced with each and every day, and we need a representative who will rise to the occasion. I think about my two children and all of the children who were left sitting literally in dust that had not been tested for asbestos. Cedar Bluff Elementary is an older school building as with many schools in our county, and it was known before renovations began that the Cedar Bluff Elementary building contained asbestos. Where exactly it was located no one knew. From two to four weeks, children and teachers were in a building with dust all about them and debris falling from the ceilings. When confronted, the school board did not seem to accept the responsibility for the situation.
My husband and I, the previous PTA officers at Cedar Bluff Elementary, and several teachers contacted the EPA and OSHA regarding asbestos regulations pertaining to schools. What we found was shocking. Asbestos abatement was required, and notification should have been provided to all parents prior to disturbing any of the material in the building. When a school building known to contain asbestos is being renovated, all material being disturbed is to be assumed to contain asbestos until it is shown otherwise. Pursuant to the EPA regulations, the local education agency shall inspect each school building to identify all locations of friable and non friable asbestos containing building material. My 8 year old daughter was having to wipe the dust off her desk each morning prior to beginning her school work, and no one could tell us whether that dust contained asbestos. I provided canned air for my child’s teacher to use on equipment in the classroom that was covered in dust. Finally, after the fact, the school board tried to ensure compliance with asbestos regulations. These regulations are in place, and even stricter for schools, due to the fact that if one asbestos fiber is ingested, it may result in cancer. The school board never apologized for their mistakes, but seemingly went into the mode of protecting themselves from any liability.
As a school board member, their first priority should be representing the interests of those who put them in office. They should be out there asking questions and gathering information. Steve Davis has apparently had a very hands off approach until very recently when he is being seen more frequently at our schools. One has to know why this is happening now, and not during the last six years. Steve Davis allowed the information to be spoon fed to him regarding the asbestos situation in our schools; and when confronted at a board meeting, literally got up and turned his back on the issue. The remainder of the members remained while a concerned parent followed him down the private hallway to ask him further questions. For Steve Davis to state a small group costs the county money by requiring the school board to insure the safety of our children, is not only untrue, it demonstrates his arrogance.
I also discovered that at Cedar Bluff Elementary and many other schools throughout our county, that soap was simply not being provided in the restrooms. I thought surely if brought to the administrations attention this would be quickly rectified. I was wrong. My husband even contacted the health Department for assistance, and was told they could only get involved if there was an issue in the kitchens. Outside my child’s classroom was a poster depicting and explaining the proper manner to wash one’s hands and the importance of frequent hand washing. Finally, after months of intervention and a meeting that my husband had with Dr. Brenda Lawson, soap dispensers arrived with soap in the restrooms at CBE.
This is unacceptable. Our children were going to the restroom daily with no way to wash their hands. Hand sanitizer is not a substitution for soap and water. I assure the public that if elected as your representative I will visit our schools regularly to ensure such things as this do not occur. Sadly I must advise that when attending a recent football game at tazewell, I found the restrooms to have no soap whatsoever. Frequent proper hand washing is essential for the control of spreading illnesses within our schools.
These are only a handful of the issues our schools are facing, and each of them may be dealt with effectively with commonsense. Previously, Steve Davis commented that he did not want to see our school board turned over to small thinking. However, most often it is essential to look carefully at some of these “small” issues to truly begin addressing the larger issues at hand. If our children are too ill to attend school, and our teachers are looking for employment elsewhere, a renovated building means very little. I believe my education and experience have given me the tools to effectively represent the Western District on our school board.
I am a graduate from VA Tech with a bachelors in English and Political Science. I then graduated from the University of Richmond with a juris doctor degree, and have been managing my own law practice for 14 years. During this time I have been active in our schools by representing the interests of children, parents, and teachers. I have spent countless hours researching the current law as it relates to the admistration of our schools, and I assure you the public, that as your representative I will be mindful of a school board member’s duties.
Again in closing, please note that even though Steve Davis denies receiving all but one of my requests for a public debate, he still does not agree to contact me to arrange a debate. Why does he want to rely on a third party to contact him to arrange such a debate? I am certain he is capable of contacting me regarding coordinating a date, time, and location for such an event.
Finally, I wish to thank all of the teachers, parents, and concerned citizens who have encouraged and supported me throughout this campaign. I encourage all of the constituency to come out and vote on November 3 for real change in our schools.

Penny Nimmo