Surrounded by two new members of the Cobb Board of Education, David Chastain was sworn in for his second term Monday night anticipating the next few years to come.
“I feel very good about the last four years,” said Chastain, who represents the Kell and Sprayberry clusters, “and I’m very optimistic about the next four.”
As he spoke, he was looking around a meeting room at the Cobb County School District central office that was packed with well-wishers for the three individuals elected in November.
Many turned out to greet the newcomers, including Charisse Davis of Post 6, which includes the Walton and Wheeler clusters. Also joining the board Monday was Jaha Howard, who represents the Osborne and Campbell clusters.
They were sworn in by Harold Melton, the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court and a 1984 graduate of Wheeler High School.
With the additions of Democrats Davis and Howard, who succeed Republicans, the Cobb school board has a 4-3 Republican majority.
Post 6 also includes a sliver of the Campbell High School area, where Davis lives. She defeated two-term incumbent Scott Sweeney and said she’s been meeting with parents and school groups in East Cobb for the last two months.
“We have a lot of work to do board,” said Davis, a former teacher who’s a librarian in Fulton County. “I want people to know that I’ve been listening to them.”
She’s having another open meeting session at Dickerson Middle School Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. It’s not a formal town hall format, she said, but a chance for parents to discuss their education concerns with her.
Chastain said he recalls that as he first joined the board four years ago, he didn’t quite understand how much of a learning curve it would entail. He said he’s been impressed with his new colleagues thus far.
“We’re a new team and bring our own diversity to the challenges we face,” Chastain said. “They’re engaged already, and as we move forward we be facing them together.”
He said he feels good about where the school district stands in terms the budget. The current fiscal year 2019 budget of $1.2 billion includes additional pay raises for employees.
“Right now we’re looking good,” he said, and felt confident the district could handle any issues that may come if interest rates go up or other financial matters arise.
Changes in the Cobb legislative delegation (now majority Democrat), as well as a new governor also will bear watching.
Getting to know her new constituents and school communities is an admittedly sizable task for Davis, but when asked if she feels overwhelmed, she smiled and said, “I’ve been a teacher.”
The board will meet Tuesday morning to elect a chair and a vice chair for the 2019 calendar year. That starts at 9 at 514 Glover St., Marietta.
Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
