Hollon challenges Edgewood status quo


EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous story incorrectly stated that Stephen Hollon did not respond to a request for information regarding his candidacy for Edgewood Board of Education.

Stephen C. Hollon is hoping to bring his political experience to the improvement of the Edgewood City School District. He is seeking one of the three open seats on the board of education in the election on Tuesday.

Hollon, 41, has been a shop steward for AK Steel for 15 years, representing more than 70 coworkers.

In that capacity, “I have been involved in politics on federal, state, and local level,” he said. “I meet several times yearly with congressmen and senators to discuss economic issues that are adversely affecting working people in our community.”

He decided to run for school board because as the father of a 10-year-old student, he said he perceives the district to be in “a declining state.”

“In last few years we have went from a district with an ‘Excellent’ school rating, to one with a C rating, one of the lowest in surrounding areas,” he said. “Being active in the community coaching kids baseball and soccer teams, I have run across countless teachers and parents so disenfranchised with problems in our schools, they are desperate for help in fixing problems.

“Lower school ratings, unhappy parents and school employees, are the ingredients for disaster in our school district,” he said.

“I strive to be as fair as possible in everything I commit myself to,” he said. “Parents appreciate how their child always gets equal treatment on teams I’m involved with.”

Hollon is also active his union’s Community Services Committee with activities such as building wheelchair ramps for injured coworkers and helping their families, sponsoring youth sports teams and 4H groups.

“I feel I have become a voice for the hard working people that live in our communities,” he said.

Hollon also said he believes that his union experience will be valuable in negotiating with the teachers.

“I want to see a fair contract that benefits both sides negotiated,” he said.

“There is also a lot of work to be done to fix our community’s apathy with our schools,” he said. “With a change in leadership on our board, I believe communications between all parties will make us stronger and get us back to the Excellent rating that Edgewood Schools deserves.”

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