Jim Taylor said his passion is helping the children of Santa Rosa County and that’s why he’s in the run-off against Carol Boston for Santa Rosa County School Board District 3.
“I never thought I’d be involved in politics,” said Taylor, “I thought it was about the kids.”
Taylor is a retired teacher, spending 31 years inside the classroom in Baltimore, MD. He said he thought about campaigning for school board years ago, but the current school board member, Diane Coleman was strongly seated he didn’t feel it was a good idea.
“I was told she wasn’t running again and some friends suggested it was time,” he said.
Taylor said he looks at the school board as a big business and the products are our children’s education.
“I think it’s essential for a school board member to have a back ground in both education and business,” he said. “I have both. I have been a real estate agent for 26 years. I am a good fit for the school board,” said Taylor.
Because Santa Rosa County residents pay into schools in their property taxes, Taylor said every resident, with our without children, has a stake in the school business.
“Santa Rosa County has a great school system. I want to share my educational expertise with the board and my business common sense,” he said. “I want to give back. I don’t have an ax to grind. I want to make it better, if possible.
Taylor said he wants to continue hiring and retaining quality teachers and ensure the county has competitive salary, benefits and job security. He also said he’s very interested in extending the teacher contract beyond a year.
Taylor said he’d like to see heightened security within the schools with more surveillance cameras, more lock down practice and perhaps even more professional security personnel on school grounds.
“We owe that to the parents of students, to keep them safe and especially to our military children. They’re overseas, and we owe them the security their children are safe while in school,” he said.
Taylor also said he feels it’s important for all students to receive a quality education, both for college prep and vocational.
“I’m big on vocational training,” he said. “Not every student will go to college. We need skilled vocation for those students,” said Taylor.
Currently, Taylor is working for Century 21 in Navarre. However, he said once he wins the election, Santa Rosa County School Board will be his full time job. “This will be my business so I can spend more time meeting parents and being involved,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Jim Taylor campaigns for SRC School Board District 3