By Caitlin Doermer and Mickey Gorman
In Buena Vista’s school board election, Roy Mohler unseated incumbent William “Bill” Fitzgerald with 34.9 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, incumbent Edward Matheny, who like Fitzgerald had been appointed to fill a vacancy, won the other seat with 37 percent of the vote.
“I’m very excited,” Matheny said when told of his win. “First time I’ve ever run for anything. First time I’ve ever won.”
There are three names on the ballot, but only two seats available on the Buena Vista School Board.
Mohler won 1,236 votes; Matheny won 1,313 votes.
Mohler, the challenger, graduated from Parry McCluer High School and now trusts the public school system to educate his three daughters. Mohler says he’d like to see his children stay close to home, but the loss of jobs makes staying in the city difficult.
He says the school system is one thing that might draw people to the city in spite of its economic struggles.
“Your children can still walk home from school,” he said. “That’s something that most places don’t have.”
Back in January, Fitzgerald had been appointed to fill one of two open seats. Matheny joined the board less than five months ago, also by appointment.
Matheny says he has always considered Buena Vista to be a “hidden gem” within the commonwealth.
“Kids in our school system know the teachers, know all the people,” Matheny said. “You’re not just a number, you’re an individual.”
He thinks the city should share what it has to offer with the surrounding area. He says students have more opportunities when classes and buses are open to youth in all of Rockbridge County. Vocational programs, such as the new heating, ventilation and air conditioning program at Parry McCluer High, are a draw for students from the county.
But Mohler resists the idea of merging with the county school system.
“Some cooperation is fine to take a look at,” he said. “But I am more than 100 percent against complete consolidation with the county.”
He said combining schools with the county would cause children to get lost in the crowd. Higher enrollment would create more competition for classes, programs and sports teams. He said Buena Vista’s small class sizes allow students to explore all of their interests.
“We should fight hard to keep a school system where we should let kids be who they want to be and not limit the opportunities they have,” he said.
One issue facing the new board is a search for a new superintendent. Rebecca Gates left the position in August. Longtime Director of Instruction Mary Holm is currently filling in, but she is not a candidate for the permanent position.
Mohler and Matheny said the schools need to operate within its tight budget. But because Mohler has yet to serve on the board, he says he is more in the dark than the other candidates.
“I really don’t know what to say about the budget right now,” he said. “I don’t know where they have money and where they don’t have money.”