As I close the chapter on serving 16 years as a Hall County school board member, I want to encourage all voters to conduct careful research on the candidates running for our Board of Education.

In recent months, school boards across the nation have come under scrutiny from political activists on both sides of the aisle. Many of our neighboring counties have experienced extreme politicization of their public schools resulting in hours long board meetings where decorum, civility and basic respect were nowhere to be found. Thankfully, that has not been the case in Hall County. Because of solid leadership in your Board of Education, Superintendent of Schools and other staff members, Hall County Schools has been the leading example of for positive school governance in the state and nation. While many public school districts closed, Hall County led the way and became the first large, metro-area school system to open for students amid the pandemic.

It is my hope that as you enter polling place this month, you will chose to continue the common sense leadership that your Hall County Board of Education has judiciously exercised during the last few years. We have made tough decisions, but always keeping student success at the forefront of everything we do.

My family and I will be voting to re-elect board members Mark Pettitt and Bill Thompson on May 24.These two dedicated public servants have earned the votes and the trust of the people of Hall County. They are fine men with whom I have enjoyed serving with. Mark and Bill both possess the highest levels of character, compassion and true concern for each child enrolled in the Hall County School System.

It has been the honor of my life to serve the students of Hall County as the East Hall Representative on the Board of Educations since 2006.

I ask the voters of Hall County to wisely re-elect Mark Pettitt and Bill Thompson because I am excited about the many strides we have made in recent years, and I look forward to seeing our Hall County Schools build upon that success in the future.

Sam Chapman
Hall County Board of Education, Post One