Hopefuls describe objectives

Web posted Wednesday, November 1, 2000

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 The candidates

By Peggy Ussery
Columbia County Bureau

There are a lot of similarities between District 5 Columbia County school board candidates Lee Muns and Diane Vizzari.

Diane Vizzari, candidate for District 5 Columbia County Board of Education. JIM BLAYLOCK/STAFF

Both see a need for technology improvements and more vocational opportunities for students. The candidates even live just blocks from each other in the same subdivision off Columbia Road.

Their approaches to campaigning, however, put them miles apart. Mr. Muns is using campaign signs and other measures to make voters familiar with him. Mrs. Vizzari is not accepting contributions and other than her qualifying fee has spent no money on a campaign.

District 5 covers the western section of Columbia County north of Interstate 20 - approximately stretching from Bel Air Road to the McDuffie County line. The seat currently held by Ray Hicks, who is not seeking re-election, will appear on ballots Nov. 7. District 3 and District 2 are also up for grabs, but only Wayne Bridges qualified for the District 2 seat.

Mr. Muns ran four years ago, losing by a small margin. He draws from his experience as a business owner when approaching education issues. As a business owner, Mr. Muns said, he wants more vocational opportunities for students who might not go to college but need job skills.

``I continue to see not necessarily and completely a deterioration of the school system itself, but a deterioration of the kids that become a product of the school system,'' Mr. Muns said. ``We have gone to such an extreme as far as academics that we're not focusing on the student as a well-rounded person. Do they understand what it really means to be accountable for their actions?''

Mrs. Vizzari hopes to bring an average person's voice to the board and admits that there are many issues she is unfamiliar with, but she vows to learn what she needs to in order to serve. She said she wants the current unity on the board to continue.

``I'm interested in the school system, very much so,'' Mrs. Vizzari said. ``I thought it was time to get involved - show my children what life is about. Community is where you start.''

Lee Muns is running for the Dist 5 seat of the Columbia County Board of Education. JIM BLAYLOCK/STAFF

Mr. Muns said he wants a stronger emphasis on character education, regular improvements to school buildings and more career guidance for students.

If elected, Mr. Muns said, he would want the school system to think twice before rolling back the millage rate it assesses for property taxes, which the school board did this year instead of announcing a tax increase. He said the school board should look more closely at how it could benefit from money collected through increased property values.

``We spend less on education in Columbia County than most people in the state,'' Mr. Muns said. ``If you want a cream-of-the-crop school system, you've got to realize there are some things you're going to have to pay for.''

Both Mr. Muns and Mrs. Vizzari have children in the school system, although Mr. Muns removed his son from Columbia Middle School and placed him at Augusta Christian Schools for one year, citing personal reasons behind the decision. His son is now a freshman at Evans High School.

Mrs. Vizzari, an emergency medical technician, has worked as a parent volunteer. Focusing on specific improvements, technology is high on her list. She wants surge protectors at every school to protect computer equipment.

``The computer system is a biggie,'' Mrs. Vizzari said. ``A lot of money has been spent there.''

Her wish list also includes a community morning news program by students highlighting school events, and transportation for students involved in after-school activities. Mrs. Vizzari said she believes in smaller schools and would oppose future elimination of paraprofessionals.

``I have said it before; I will say it again. That is not the place to cut corners,'' Mrs. Vizzari said. ``Every paraprofessional I know worked hard and got paid no money. Teachers find them priceless.''

Mrs. Vizzari said she does not support state legislation that punishes students who drop out of school by revoking their driver's licenses. She agrees with improving vocational education to give students more opportunities.

``If you want somebody to go to school, you've got to make school the inviting thing, not the driver's license,'' Mrs. Vizzari said.

Mr. Muns said he would like the school board to hold at least one Saturday meeting each quarter to give people a chance to make public comment.

``I want to listen to people,'' he said. ``It greatly concerns me when you go to school board meetings and the only people there are your principals and your assistant superintendents.''

The candidates

Lee Muns

Age: 38

Residence: Martinez

Occupation: President, Muns Welding and Mechanical Inc.Education: Graduated from Westside High School in Augusta and completed a four-year apprenticeship with Local No. 150

Political experience: None

Family: Wife, Kimberly; two daughters and a son

Diane Vizzari

Age: 38

Residence: Martinez

Occupation: Emergency medical technician

Education: Associate's degree in theater from Suffolk Community College on Long Island, N.Y.

Political experience: None

Family: Husband, Mitchell; two daughters and a son

Reach Peggy Ussery at (706) 868-1222, Ext. 112.

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