VIDALIA — Two candidates are running for the Concordia Parish School Board in District 4-A.

Candidates are Ronnie Bradford and Charles E. Minor.

Ronnie Bradford

Bradford said he has a personal interest in seeing the CPSB do well.

“I have a daughter who is a teacher in the school system,” he said. “And I have grandkids who are attending the schools.”

Bradford also said his involvement with various clubs and organizations, and his experience owning and running his own insurance company are things that qualify him for the school board race.

“I have been in the insurance business in Ferriday for 36 years,” he said. “That business experience would help me be a positive influence on the CPSB.”

Bradford’s list of clubs include: past president of the Ferriday Jaycees, current member and past president of the Ferriday Rotary Club and current member and serving elder for First Presbyterian Church of Ferriday.

Bradford said the steps the CPSB is taking toward getting more parental involvement in the schools is something he wants to help continue if elected.

“The implementation of the parent centers system shows the board is headed in the right direction,” he said. “Parents can check on procedures and steps to become more involved with their children.”

Bradford said continuing to work on the school buildings is another thing he wants to see being done.

“I feel like we are heading in the right direction, and we need to continue to improve the physical facilities and the equipment the teachers have to work with,” he said. “I think the board has done a lot of the improvements so far, but the buildings are old and they need more work.”

Bradford said he would like to see a greater variety of learning opportunities in the schools.

“I think there should be more vocational education for students in the area who are not planning on going to college,” he said.

Bradford said he hopes to remain a member of the CPSB, a position he received after filling the open seat for Ricky Raven after Raven left the board earlier this year.

“I would just welcome the opportunity to continue to serve on the school board with honesty, integrity and fairness,” he said.

Charles E. Minor

Minor said he was passionate about the welfare of the children in the community, and, if elected, he could speak up for parish students.

“I just see a need for a fresh new voice for people who are not being heard right now,” he said.

With eight years of serving the community as a pastor, Minor said he has plenty of experience to bring to the school board.

“I have plenty of leadership and management skills,” he said. “I bring a positive attitude to all I do, and I am patient.”

Minor also said he works well with others, and that is key when working with an entity such as the school board.

“Different people represent different districts but we need to think of the school system as a whole,” he said. “We need to do what we have to do to bring the education level higher for the CPSB.”

Minor said he likes the way the school board is currently working to make parental involvement a bigger issue.

“Parents need to be more involved,” he said. “They need to be informed what is going on in the schools.”

Bringing more balance to each school in the parish is something Minor said he would work on if elected.

“Bringing more qualified teachers to failing schools could help them do better,” he said. “We could just shift them around as needed.”

Minor said school board members need to be focused on the children’s interests, and to not be distracted by petty issues that interrupt a child’s education.

“The education of our youth is an issue worthy of our most fervent attention and significant focus,” he said. “The proper education of our children will produce productive, law-abiding members of the community, a vibrant economy and a community-minded citizen.”

Minor said thinking outside of the box could help bring more positive results to the school board.

“We need to look at other parishes and schools to see what they are doing right and copy them in those areas,” he said.

Minor also said something needs to be done to help area students struggling after high school.

“If students from Concordia Parish are leaving and going to college and failing, something needs to be adjusted,” he said.

Minor said that while he may not be a politician, he will do whatever he needs to help the schools, if he is elected.

“I will try my best to bring practical leadership, fresh ideas and a cooperative spirit to the board,” he said.