Native focusing on technical training for high schoolers

MARIETTA - Approached by others to run for the Ward 5 seat on the Marietta School Board, Marietta native Doug Martin said he is the best choice to address their concerns regarding education in the city.

Martin, 56, is seeking to fill the seat being vacated by the board's longest serving member, Jeanie Carter. He is running against Stuart Fleming.

Martin is focused on guiding high school graduates, who choose not to attend college, into careers. If elected, he said he would partner two-year colleges and continuing education programs to get help them find meaningful careers.

"You can make good money as a plumber or an electrician," Martin said. "Those who choose not to go to college, I'm going to introduce them to alternative ways of providing an income for themselves - so that they do not come back to the community and the only way available for them to make money is something negative."

Martin also wants to encourage parents to become involved in school activities, such as the PTA. If elected, he said he wants to conduct school forums with guest speakers. Martin also suggested organizing at least one parent on every street to attend board meetings, on a rotating basis, to represent their neighbors.

"We need the parents to take an active role in the system, and I'm going to encourage them to do that," he said.

Martin said he supports school choice. And he said he believes the present board and Marietta Superintendent Dr. Emily Lembeck have done a good job.

School boards are not exempt from budget constraints brought on by the economic slowdown. But Martin said there are ways to work around that problem.

"I would like to see us partner with businesses more, especially those businesses in a particular area that would benefit a particular school," he said. "To give you one idea, the majority of students who go to Park Street (Elementary) are Hispanic. I would like to see more Hispanic businesses become partners with the school system to funnel monies to help fund projects and programs for the specific school."

Martin also responded to critics who have questioned his commitment to the city's students, considering his personal and financial problems.

On Oct. 16, a Cobb Superior Court judge ordered Martin to pay $2,500 in back child support by Friday or face arrest. His ex-wife, Michelle Walson, claims Martin has made sporadic child support payments since their 2004 divorce.

He said he has been unable to find work since suffering a severe fall inside a drug store in November 2006. He said the incident left him disabled for 18 months and he did not qualify for unemployment insurance.

"That has nothing to do with the decisions I would make on the school board," Martin said. "And my children are not in want."

He added that his 27 years as a community activist, including tutoring at Fort Hill homes and conducting historical research on an old area of town called Jonesville, makes him qualified to serve on the board.

Martin, a former Marietta schools custodian, said he is actively working to start his own business. He is a 1972 graduate of Marietta High School. He earned an associate degree from Atlanta Junior College in 1976 and bachelor's degree from Norfolk State University 1981. He has two children at Marietta High and another who graduated.

***Businessman hopes to influence board

MARIETTA - Stuart Fleming believes his leadership and vision makes him well-qualified to represent Ward 5 on the Marietta School Board.

Fleming, 32, is looking to replace longtime board member Jeanie Carter, who is stepping down. He faces Doug Martin in the Nov. 3 election.

Fleming works in strategy and operations for Coca-Cola Enterprises. He graduated in 1996 from the Walker School, the Air Force Academy in 2000 and received a Master's degree in philosophy and international relations from Cambridge University in 2003.

"I've been fortunate enough to have been an officer in the Air Force, to do several leadership programs and I'm a leader both in the community in which I am now, as well as professionally," Fleming said.

"Vision - you only get that if you have a strong educational perspective. I've been fortunate enough in my life to go to public and private school in Cobb County. I've graduated from a military academy and I've also gone to an international school. I've seen all different experiences, from the diversity of the children to diversity of intellect."

In addition, Fleming said he poses the ability to influence the rest of the board.

"I can have the greatest or the worst ideas, but if I can't successfully convey those to other board members and reach consensus and agreement, it's for not," he said.

Ultimately, Fleming said he running because he feels he can continue to make the school system better.

Fleming said greater focus needs to be placed on the early stages of education because that's when students are learning the basics. He also said teachers who demonstrate superior performance need to be rewarded. And Fleming said students need to be prepared to be productive.

"I mean productive citizens, college students and contributors to the workforce," Fleming said. "Not everyone goes to college. The question is, what are they going to do after high school, and make sure that they're well prepared there."

If elected, Fleming said he would work to improve the relationship between the school board and parents.

"Whether it be televising of the school board meetings - we've got to get people to come out and be actively engaged," he said.

Regarding the topic of school choice, which Marietta City Schools adopted three years ago, Fleming said he supports allowing elementary students to enroll in whatever school they want. However, he worries about creating a divided system between "good" and "bad" schools.

"I'm concerned with what is occurring and what has occurred at Westside (Elementary). Now, that is the premiere school in the city of Marietta, from an elementary standpoint," Fleming said. "I don't think you're going to have many parents who'll choose to go to Park Street (Elementary)."

Fleming said Marietta Superintendent Dr. Emily Lembeck "has brought a renewed sense of optimism" to the school system. And he gave the present school board high marks for its performance.

"The board, both in the recent past and going forward, is going to struggle mightily with the economic realities that are in place. And they've done a good job up until now," he said. "I think that they have done their darndest to not cut staff and to make the right cuts."

Fleming is married, and the two are expecting a daughter.