There are two candidates still standing for the Superintendent of Schools position for Hamilton County, TN. Yesterday was Dr. Jim Scales day in the district. Here are some interesting insights into Dr. Scales from the timesfreepress website.

Dr. Scales said

“The first thing I would do is talk with stakeholders, community leaders, civic groups, business and political leaders,” he said. “And I wouldn’t leave out students, teachers and administrative staff to find out what they see are the basic needs and what we need to being doing and what are some things we need to discard.”

Dallas Independent School Board member Jerome Garza commenting on Scales leadership style.

“He does not believe in a parent going straight to the superintendent,” he said. “But once it gets to his level, he is the kind of person who says, ‘We are not going to leave until we work this out.’ “

Hamilton County School Board and County Commission have had conflicts, Dr. Scales said about his approach toward this constant conflict.

“One of the keys is relationship building,” he said. “I would want to work on a healing process to overcome what seem to be some sticking points of the (1997 county and city schools) merger.”

Today is Bruce Harter’s opportunity in Chattanooga.