When residents of Franklin County's School Board District Two vote in the May 24th Republican Primary, they'll choose between two men, each of whom is greatly invested in Phil Campbell School.
With no Democratic candidate, the winner between incumbent Terry Welborn and Republican challenger Curtis Baker will serve a six-year term on the Franklin County Board of Education starting in November.
The same candidates appeared on the ballot in 2016, but Baker was the Democratic nominee that time. He switched to the Republican Party last year, a move Welborn made two years after he was first elected to the position as a Democrat in 2010.
Baker was required to submit a written request to the Franklin County Republican Executive Committee to be considered by the party. Once his request went to a vote, he was welcomed by the committee with a unanimous vote.
“I felt like at the national level Democrats had gone too far left for me to be any part of that,” Baker said. “I have genuine concerns about what some Democrats believe should be taught in the classroom.”
Welborn was the first Franklin County elected official to change parties.
Welborn, who is seeking a third term, said when he changed parties that the Republican Party was at the forefront of “As a member of the Board of Education, it is my job to look out for the best interests of students and their opportunities,” Welborn said at the time. “The Republican Party is the national and state leader when it comes to putting students first and providing innovative education solutions for our kids.”
Baker is a 2000 graduate of PCHS. He and his wife Tiffany have three children. Their oldest son, Austen, graduate from PCHS last year and their other two children are Phil Campbell students.
Earlier this year, Baker was honored with the Distinguished Service Award for Phil Campbell by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, for his many volunteer efforts for his community and school.
“Ever since I got out of school in 2000, I've had a passion to give back to Phil Campbell School. I think we need a positive change and that starts with a new board member representing District Two,” Baker said.
Baker has concerns about whether enough is being done to keep illicit drugs and vapes (which often contain marijuana with THC) out of the school. He also said Phil Campbell is dealing with some student issues on transgender that the system's policy makers must address.
“We must make sure we're doing a good job year in and year out with our policy to keep drugs out of our schools,” Baker said. “We had a guy charged with selling vape juices with THS right here in our county. We're dealing with a growing problem with fentanyl and must make sure we're at the forefront of that issue.
“You can't be reactive to the drug problem. You must be proactive to ever have a chance to keep it out of your schools,” Baker added.
Welborn talked about his passion for Phil Campbell and all the community has been through since he was elected in 2010.
“I love Phil Campbell. My kids graduated from there. My grandkids are going there as well. We've had some rough times since 2010, when I was first elected,” Welborn said. “We went through a devastating tornado in my first term and then the pandemic hit two years ago.
“So we as the board sat down with our superintendent and came up with the best solutions to educate our kids and keep them safe,” Welborn added.
Welborn talked about some of the board's accomplishments the past 12 years, in particular bringing the school system out of the red, now with the one-month operating budget required by the state Department of Education.
Capital projects during Welborn's tenure include a new parking lot, artificial turf practice field, resurfaced baseball field, softball field renovations and plans to expand the PCES library. He also mentioned in a social media post that the board approved a budget including important academic programs like 1 Station, Math Coach and EL Intervention.
Baker said he's heard concerns from Phil Campbell parents about the school's policy regarding COVID-19 and how it often changed, leaving parents in the dark as to what measures were being taken to minimize the risk to all students and faculty.
Whether elected or not, Baker plans to remain an active volunteer in school activities, something he believes can save a child from problems in life.
“I have a theory on extracurricular activities like band or athletics or FFA,” Baker said. “That may be the only chance you have of reaching a child coming to a crossroads in his or her life. Whether they go the wrong way or stay on the right path. Their love of baseball or band or another activity may be what keeps them from making bad decisions.
“If you don't invest in those activities and give all you can, including your time, are you really doing everything you can to help that child? Giving my time is something I've always tried to do,” he added.
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