In his final meeting as a Cobb Board of Education member, David Banks was recognized Thursday by his colleagues and Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale for 16 years of service.
During board recognitions and in Ragsdale’s remarks, Banks was honored for the four terms in which he has served as in Post 5 in East Cobb.
Banks, a Republican, did not seek re-election this year for the seat that covers the Walton, Pope and some of the Wheeler attendance zones.
He will be succeeded in January by John Cristadoro, a Republican and a parent of two students in the Walton area.
“It’s been an awesome time,” said Ragsdale, who called Banks “the staunchest supporter of our schools, everywhere in the district.”
A retired technology executive, Banks said in January that he wouldn’t run again, citing age.
“It’s been a great journey,” Banks said in an exchange with Ragsdale during a Thursday night board business meeting. “I wish I had started about 10 years younger.”
He said he is proud of his advocacy in advancing STEM education throughout the district, and in pushing for a new school district central office building in 2010.
Banks also referenced several East Cobb high school attendance zones that have been in his post over the years, saying it’s “been great being a part of those programs. That’s what I’m going to miss.”
But, who narrowly won re-election in 2020, has been a controversial figure during portions of his tenure.
In that re-election bid four years ago, he said the biggest long-term challenge facing the Cobb school district was “white flight,” vowing to work for it “not to become a school system like Atlanta, DeKalb and Clayton.”
The comments by Banks, a strong conservative Republican, triggered a response from then-Democratic board members Charisse Davis and Jaha Howard, with whom he sparred on a number of racial and cultural matters.
Banks also has used his newsletter to decry COVID-19 vaccines and to referr to the illness as the “China virus”
and come under for fire for social media comments disparaging the Roman Catholic Church.
At Thursday’s meeting, Banks expressed his appreciation for “all the friends I’ve made here. In a way I’m going to miss it. But life goes on. I’ve still got my wife to take care of and she’s got me to take care of.
“This has been a great school system. It’s been great getting to know people over the years, and sometimes I’ve been able to help people.”
Related:
- Pope state champion athletes honored by Cobb school district
- Sedalia Park ES, Sprayberry HS earn Cobb STEM certifications
- Cobb superintendent asks critics to ‘take a break’
- Kell HS marching band triumphs at ‘Conquest of Champions’
- Cristadoro pledges open door after Cobb school board election
- Parents sue Cobb school district over public comment scuffle
- Cobb schools named literacy leaders by Ga. superintendent
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