Seeking school board position in Carthage

I am running for position two on the Carthage Central Board of Education. I am retired from the Army and a stay-at-home dad.

I have two children who attend Carthage Central schools. My daughter will graduate this year and my son is in the seventh grade. My wife, Staci, is a fourth-grade teacher at Black River Elementary. We have lived in the school district since 2002. When coming to Fort Drum in 2001, we searched the local areas and chose Carthage as our home.

Now, some people believe that by being on the board, they can make all these changes and everything is "easy said and easy done."

However, the reality often is that the state has mandated certain items or curricula. Then eventually, when the state has removed its funding for the item in question, the local board members often find themselves unable to amend that item or curriculum. So it is not as easy as some may think.

I am not making any promises. This is a one-year position. If it does not work, I will leave. If I like it and people like the job I am doing, I will stay. My main goal is to listen to what people have to say and research all the best possible solutions to give our children the best education they deserve at a reasonable price.

Timothy W. Thornton

Carthage