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Blagg seeks first term
BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER
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MONTEREY - With three children ages 10, 13 and 14, Jim Blagg of Doe Hill decided his vested interest in Highland County Public Schools was a strong motive for running for a seat on the Highland County School Board.
"I thought with still having children in school, if I didn't run, I couldn't complain. Since we've been back, I haven't had reason to go to any school board meetings or had any complaints, or ever had to meet with anyone about any issues, but I thought that with all the incumbents leaving office, if I didn't run I'd feel bad about raising issues in the future."
Blagg says his Army career - 23 years in the veterinary corps as an officer - has prepared him well for a role overseeing management of schools and policy.
"I have a great deal of personnel experience with almost every one of my assignments in the army. In my last assignment I managed the careers of 400 vet corps (as a colonel) and I've also worked with large budgets, in excess of $1 million. I also have insight into bureaucracies."
Blagg attended Highland schools all 12 years in the 1960s and '70s. "I know Highland County schools ... they prepared for me everything I needed to do. At Virginia Tech (where he pursued undergraduate work), I had no problem; all the basics were there." The schools are different now, he realizes, but mostly for the better. "Obviously technology's changed, and you have opportunities for distance learning; we didn't have SOLs of course, but we did have standardized tests."
Standards of Learning, Blagg says, are serving a purpose but he sees them as undermining the way teachers approach their curricula. "I think the way they're currently structured, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. I know they were developed with good intentions but they've created some problems," he said.
"I don't have a lot of insight into the current programs," he added, "but based on the comments of children and what I see ... they have more opportunities more than what they did. When I went to school they just had shop, if you will, and that was it. And what you were able to learn from voag or shop depended on you and the teacher ... I know a lot of seniors now are going into specialty programs, master mechanics and stuff."
He's also pleased with the increased offerings in athletics with sports like volleyball and track. "The size of the school's going to limit the size of the programs you can field, and the degree of success or chances of having a winning team every year. The size of the system is going to limit it, but we've done a lot with the numbers we have," he said. "You only have to go a basketball game and see the community support."
Paying for education
"My understanding, based on what I've heard and read, is that the majority of the budget is mandated by the state. We meet the state's mandated requirements, so the county is meeting those mandates and not much beyond those mandated requirements," he said.
Blagg does not believe there's much the schools can do about the way the state determines how much money Highland gets for its schools, and if the school board were to approach the state legislature, he says, "I can't see our voices being that large. The best thing that's happened in recent years is that the share of the funding that had to come out of the county was adjusted, but I don't know that we can expect much more than that in the near future. I believe we're spending about as much per student as any county in the state."
Also, Blagg believes the school needs a plan in place for capital expenditures, and says the repairs and maintenance needed at the campus should be planned like any major business.
Board responsibilities
Blagg has met superintendent Gary Blair, and is encouraged by his performance. "I don't know him personally, (but) based on what I've read and heard he's doing very well," he said.
As for the outgoing board members, he said, "I think they've done a good job. I didn't have any problems with their performance. Certainly with Bobbie Hefner, she's got so much strength of knowledge and experience."
As a leader, Blagg characterizes his management style as "somewhat deliberative."
"I'm usually trying to assess a situation, get information, seek input from individuals or groups affected and look at what's possible and what's algoing lowed then determine the best solution," he said. "I don't really think school board members should be involved in day to day operations. I think they do need to listen to parents and others with input on the system. Some of the things that parents observe day-to-day may alert the school board to problems that are there, but I don't think the school board members need to have their fingers on the pulse of the school everyday. Obviously, I get a report every day (from his own children) so I'll get that for the next seven years. (But) that's probably more detailed information than I need, and it's a little biased," he chuckled.
"I plan to attend at least two school board meetings this fall, and I plan to meet with at least one of the departing school board members and sit down and talk to them about the issues and concerns, and how things work," he added.
"Every weakness is a strength and every strength is a weakness, so I guess some people would consider a weakness that I'm not highly sociable ... I'm more reserved and introverted," he explained.
Blagg said he does not have anything in his personal or professional life that would create a conflict of interest if he were elected to the school board. Though his brother, Lee, eight years his senior, is an incumbent supervisor seeking reelection, Blagg says there wouldn't be a problem if they were both serving in office. "The main thing between the boards concerns budget issues and the superintendent proposes the budget, as I understand it ... I can't see how there would be a conflict there. I wouldn't have any more input with him (Lee) than any other parent in the school system."
Blagg said he knows little about Virginia's Freedom of Information Act except what he experienced in the military. "We used to get requests through Freedom of Information (and) we had to respond in a timely manner to get the information out ... the only other thing, as I understand it, (is that) all school board member (information) except for personnel issues is open, accessible to anyone."
Blagg said there's little he'd do differently than the current board, if elected. "I don't know enough about their day to day function and what they've done other than what I read in The Recorder. Obviously, a school board member has to be accessible, and they have been. They have to work within state and federal guidelines, look out for the education of the students, and they have, as best as I can tell." He would support staggered terms, however, as a way to avoid a complete turnover during an election, as the board will experience this time.
He does not believe school boards should have taxation authority, as they do in some localities. "We don't need that," he said. "We already have enough taxation authorities."
Blagg said he would be open to using a different approach to education in Highland that could free the system from some state regulations "if the education of the students isn't placed in jeopardy because of some bright idea," he said. "As far as I can tell, the students are competitive with the remainder of the state's schools, so you don't want to give up the level of achievement you have."
He's not sure at this point what kinds of improvements the schools need, but he has been listening to citizens' concerns. "I don't know enough to make a sound judgment," he said, "(but) there are a certain number of people concerned with taxes, that there's to be some reason (or) action that's going to increase property taxes ... I hear from landowners, not just homeowners, (but) people that have larger tracts of land are concerned."
As for the school staff in place, he believes most are satisfied with the teachers. "Some people are dissatisfied with some of the faculty, (but) in any school system you're going to have that. (It was the) same when I grew up. Maybe 20-30 percent of the teachers are outstanding ... You're going to have a large majority that are good, solid teachers, and you're going to have a minority that has problems because of their skills, abilities or communications, just like in any business," he said.
About the candidate
¦ Jim Blagg, 52 ¦ Grew up in Highland, graduated Highland High School ¦ Lives with his wife in Doe Hill, four children, three of whom are attending Highland elementary and middle schools; one graduated HHS last year ¦ Attended Virginia Tech, then the University of Georgia, studying veterinary medicine ¦ Spent 23-year career as a vet corps officer in the Army ¦ Retired and returned to Doe Hill with his family in 2005, where he currently runs a few sheep and manages a small farm ¦ Secretary, Stonewall Ruritan Club, board member, Highland Historical Society, lay leader, Doe Hill United Methodist Church, member American Legion
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