|
Jake Cleek: Seeking second-term
General Election 2007
BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER
 | | Jake Cleek |
|
WARM SPRINGS - Jake Cleek took a long shot four years ago when he ran for the Warm Springs district school board seat as a write-in candidate. This November, he runs unopposed.
"It's going to be an awful rough year," Cleek said, referring to changes at Bath County High School. "I felt like I could help them some."
Cleek's first job out of military service was working on the construction of BCHS. "After a summer of pushing concrete, I knew there had to be something better, easier."
Education was both the path and path out of manual labor that Cleek chose. He has a master's degree in education and physical education from East Tennessee State University.
Cleek retired from the Bath County school system, including 12 years in administration. His daughter taught in Bath schools and his granddaughters will both graduate from BCHS.
The budget process is long and requires about a dozen nights of meetings, said Cleek. He notes that money is tight for every part of county government. Cleek disagreed with the decision to spend surplus dollars at the end of the most recent fiscal year, he said. "I think we should have turned money back" to the county, he said.
One thing he would like to see is the school board office building made handicapped accessible. Both entrances have steps, he noted, and there are 22 steps upstairs to the second floor.
Cleek also said he'd like to see superintendent Dr. David Smith out in the schools and community more. With the construction at the high school, he feels this is especially important this year.
Cleek said he doesn't get as involved with day-to-day operations at the schools as he feels he should, though he tries to walk though each school and eat a lunch there on a regular basis.
"We have a good board," Cleek said. "We don't always agree. We sit there and hammer it out until it is taken care of ... All the members are very, very interested in the job they do."
And the current budget is well-managed, said Cleek. He credits Justine Rider with managing the numbers.
The relationship between the board of supervisors and the school board still needs improvement, Cleek said, though he had no specific suggestions to offer.
"The biggest job facing the board is getting BCHS done as quickly as possible so students and teachers can work in a pleasant surrounding," Cleek said.
"I try to be available," Cleek added. "If a teacher has a problem or something needs help with," Cleek said he listens. "I have an open door policy. Anyone can call me at home, see me on the street and ask questions. I make a point to find an answer to all questions."
About the candidate Jake Cleek
Age: 74
Lives on Klondike Hill with wife TD.
Graduated Valley High School. Masters degree in education.
Retired from Bath County school system.
Elected to board as write-in candidate in 2003.
| 
)