Three incumbent Roanoke Rapids Graded District Board of Trustees are up for re-election this year.

Incumbents Cathy Keeter, Steven Ellis, and Jeff Kloss are being challenged by Jim Whitmire and Carlton Ansley.

The following are Ellis’s answers to campaign questions:

Why are you running for school board?

I am running for the board because I want to serve the students, parents, and staff of this district. Having a school district that offers a well-rounded education and develops students who are ready for the next steps in life, whether it’s higher education or going into the workforce, is paramount for the success of our community. 

Have you served previously?

I started my civil service to this community on the city planning board and the county board of adjustment. Two years ago, when there was a vacancy on the school board, I applied for the appointment and was selected. Ever since, I have done everything I can to learn about the operations of the board and our school system.  I have served on the facilities and safety committee and the finance and personnel committee, both of which I feel very passionate about. I would love to continue serving the citizens of Roanoke Rapids on the School Board.

What experience do you bring?

Aside from my previous experience with the School Board and the local and county boards I have served on, I have worked for the Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District for nearly 20 years. During my career, I have worked with and prepared multi-million-dollar budgets. I have been tasked with managing large groups of staff and overseeing day-to-day operations that protect our environment and public health. I have worked with numerous state agencies and regulators to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.  All of this experience with local government, state government, budgeting, and management is directly applicable to the School District and its operations. While government agencies such as school systems are often run like businesses, the laws and statutes that govern what can be done and are much different than the rules that govern private industry. 

Biggest challenge for the district and suggestions for improvement

The largest challenge facing our district is funding. We need to be able to recruit and retain the highest caliber staff including teachers, support staff, and administrators. We need to be able to fill all vacant positions, including our Exceptional Children positions and our maintenance staff. We need to be able to feed our children who rely on us for what may be their only meals. We need to be able to educate our non-English speaking students. So many of these needs are dependent on funding. With the changes that have taken place in Washington, D.C. and even in Raleigh, our budget is uncertain. While our needs persist, sometimes our funding does not. The district, and all other districts in the state, need to keep pushing our representatives to fund public education and pay our teachers and other staff the wages that they deserve. Not only should school districts demand better funding, but voters in general should demand it as well.

What is the greatest strength of our district and how can we capitalize on it?

One of my beliefs is that our staff is our most valuable asset. Without the best teachers and support staff, we cannot educate our students to the highest degree possible. Our staff has been leading the way and elevating our district, improving our school grades and our ratings. They have been producing students that are ready for higher education and for the work force. We need to continue to support and develop our educators and staff and do whatever we can to retain them. As long as we have a great staff, our students and community will prosper. 

What should the role of a board member be?

The role of a board member is to set policy for the district. Through policy, the board can set the course for the district. The board hires the superintendent to set procedures to implement those policies. While it may be hard to do, board members should remember it is the superintendent's job to run the school district and their job to have oversight of the superintendent. It is important that the chain of command be kept intact. While board members should listen to parents and staff that have concerns, they should direct them to the appropriate channels and never take it upon themselves to “fix” a problem. While it is a hard pill to swallow, it is what the laws and statutes demand we do.