Hensley seeks D4 school board seat

To the editor,
I would like to announce my candidacy for school the District 4 seat on the Orange County School Board.
I live in the Rhoadesville area with my wife and nine-year-old daughter. I was raised in the Barboursville area, and graduated from Orange County High School in 1991. I have a bachelor's degree in economics from Mary Washington College, and an associates degree in business administration from Piedmont Virginia Community College. I work as a senior loan officer for Mason Dixon Funding in Culpeper.
I am running because I am concerned with decisions of the current board that do not represent what I believe are in the best interests of our school children across the entire county. Nor are these decisions properly respectful of county taxpayers who foot the bill.
The current school board and board of supervisors have committed us to a very large debt. Much of the new debt is for a new middle school that will be built long before the debt for the existing two middle schools, built recently, is paid.
Clearly space is needed at the current Locust Grove Schools, primarily at the elementary school. Would it not have been more efficient to expand the two existing middle schools, which was planned when those schools were constructed and then pursue the building of a new elementary school at the easternmost end of the county to better serve our residence that live there? All this could have been accomplished at a far lower cost than building a new middle school and renovating the existing Locust Grove Middle School to serve as an elementary school.
Another concern I have is the recent action in dismissing the superintendent prior to the end of his contract, with no real explanation presented to the public, and hiring an interim superintendent. Not only is this disruptive of the educational mission of the school system, it is extremely costly to the taxpayer.
These decisions will result in fewer resources being available for instructional purposes as well as fewer resources available for dealing with other school facility issues.
I want to use my financial training and experience to assure that we have the most effective and efficient school system possible. It is clear that we need some fresh thinking on the school board.
I look forward to meeting the citizens of District 4 and discussing important educational issues over the next several months. Please do not hesitate to contact me at 854-7072 or at toddahensley@gmail.com.
Todd A. Hensley