MADISON COUNTY — Two incumbents will be challenged in the upcoming November election for seats on the Frankton-Lapel Community Schools Board of Trustees.
Mike Rusche, who has been on the school board for two terms (eight years) is being opposed by Rob Trotter to be the District 1 representative.
Incumbent Tami Davis is in a contested race against George (Geep) Harrison for the District 4 seat.
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For two other school board spots, incumbents Randy Cunningham, District 2, and Melissa Duncan, District 3, are running unopposed.
A longtime resident of Lapel, Rusche is the current board president and has held that position for two years. This is the first time in three elections he is being opposed.
“(I got involved) because I wanted to help the community. I love this community,” Rusche said. “It does take a while to understand (the way school boards function). I believe I’ve been a good representative for the community in figuring out what’s best for our kids.
“We want to make the best decision for them and give them a safe environment to learn.”
Rusche is product manager for Blackbaud Inc., a company providing software to power social good.
Trotter has worked in Madison County for 10 years and is currently working outside parts sales for Stoops Freightliner in Anderson. He has lived in the Lapel school district the past four. He said his family moved to Lapel because of the education system.
“We moved here specifically to be in the Lapel school district, knowing the quality of their schools,” Trotter said.
He said he has a 3-year old daughter who eventually will be attending those schools, and he wants to be a part of the board for that reason.
“I want to be involved to make sure my daughter has a great place to go to school,” Trotter said. “One of my biggest concerns is outside entities pushing forward curriculums. I think some of the politics pushing into schools makes for neglecting the basic core of education; reading, writing and arithmetic.”
Like Rusche, Davis has been on the board for two terms. She is a former president of the board, for two years, as well as a former secretary.
She has more than 30 years of experience working in education and is assistant director at Hines Career Center, where she helps prepare students in seven school districts for future endeavors.
She has formerly taught and coached in the Frankton-Lape district and believes her extensive background in education is, and has been, a plus for the board.
“I feel it is important that the school board is diverse in its membership,” she said. “We can’t stand still. We need to keep working to tackle the growing challenges in education. My teaching and administrative (background) help complement the make up of the board.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to help the school district grow and become stronger and more successful.”
Harrison is a first-time candidate for school board.
He is currently a supervisor of transfusion medicine in a lab at Community Hospital Anderson.
“I know it takes a great deal of decision-making on the school board,” Harrison said. “As a supervisor, I think a lot of the critical thinking and decision making I do would serve well on the board.”
Harrison is a lifelong Frankton resident. His wife, Krista, has taught for 20 years in the school system. They have children who have both graduated from and currently attend Frankton schools.
He said having family in the school system, which also includes nieces and nephews in both Frankton and Lapel schools, was motivation to run for school board.
“Not just my family, but for all students and staff, I want to give them the best opportunity to succeed,” he said. “I think we’ve got a great school system and I’d be honored to be on the board.”
