MICHAEL PARKS Will Seek Re-Election for Post 1 Board of Education

Michael W. Parks, Post 1 representative of the Gilmer County Board of Education, has announced his intention to seek re-election in the July 31st primary. Parks was elected to the board in 2008 and currently serves as Vice-Chairman.

“I have given re-election a great deal of thought and discussed a second term with my family and many people in the community for whom I have a great deal of respect. ” Mr. Parks said. “I’ve concluded that I can continue to make a significant contribution to the work of the current Board with your continued support.”

“During my first term in office, I maintained my dedication to take the partisan politics out of the Board of Education and to work with both sides of the aisle to do what is best for all students in our system”.

Parks goes on to say,

“While we aren’t there yet, I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish thus far. The current board understands education today is complex and simplistic approaches will not meet today’s challenges. We strive toward the premise of Vision, Structure, and Accountability.”

Parks believes good Board members talk to students, teachers, parents, and administrators and he has ‘listened’ optimistically to those with opinions.

“I am honored and appreciate the confidence you have placed in me to serve you, the parents and students of Gilmer County the past four years,”

he added.

“School Board members must pull together as a team toward a common goal – helping all students achieve. This board has and is currently going through the most threatening and unforeseen financial crisis the school system has ever faced and feel we have maintained economic stability without sacrificing programs and class room instruction with a strong commitment from our great teachers and staff. Our role as a Board should be to consistently do our best toward that goal. I base my decisions on careful thought and sound reasoning. I feel it is important to place the education of our students first in all decision making.”

Mr. Parks concluded by saying,

“We know the community, and faculty and staff of our schools have made numerous sacrifices and have gone through many changes in order for the Gilmer School system to survive. “We, the Board, appreciate all these sacrifices and will make every effort, as the economy allows, improving support to our educators.”

The candidate is the son of Rev. Wallace and Carole Parks. He is married to Donna Parks. Donna is a teacher at Mountain View Elementary School. They have been married for 27 years and have two daughters, one currently in her fourth year at Kennesaw State and one a sophomore at Gilmer High School.