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Marvin Harris
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Marvin Harris is the North District member of the Newport News School Board in Virginia. He won the seat in the general election that was held on May 3, 2016.[1]
Biography
Harris served in the United States Army for 22 years. He has spent the last 10 years working as a training manager for a miltary construction program at Fort Eustis. He also runs a nonprofit called Veteran's Transitional Services, Inc. Harris previoulsy served on the Human Rights Commission from 2008 to 2010. He was also appointed to the City of Newport News Efficiency Task Force on City Government in 2011. He is a member of the Masons, the Shriners, the Soldiers United Motorcycle Club of Hampton Roads, 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Virginia Peninsula Chapter, American Legion Post 368, Denbigh Military Retiree Club, Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Thursday Morning Breakfast Club.[2][3]
Elections
2016
Three of the seven seats on the Newport News Public Schools school board were up for general election on May 3, 2016. In the North District, Marvin Harris defeated Curtis Bethany and Valerie Young. John Eley III won the South District seat by defeating four other candidates including Sheryl Holmes Abbott, Terri Best, Bethany Martin, and Yugonda Sample. Incumbent Shelly Simonds won re-election to the Central District seat after running unopposed.[1]
Results
| Newport News Public Schools, North District General Election, 4-year term, 2016 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Marvin Harris |
42.18% | 1,020 |
| Curtis Bethany | 33.62% | 813 |
| Valerie Young | 23.74% | 574 |
| Write-in votes | 0.45% | 11 |
| Total Votes | 2,418 | |
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections, "2016 May City General Official Results," accessed June 23, 2016 | ||
Funding
Harris reported no contributions or expenditures to the Virginia Department of Elections during the election.[4]
Endorsements
Harris received an official endorsement from the Daily Press.[5]
Campaign themes
Harris identified the following themes on his campaign website:
| “ | 1. Safety: Programs and services that are designed and contribute to the maintenance and establishment of a safe and positive learning environment.
A. RESTORE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION/RENOVATION FUNDING- The average NNPS school 48 years old, renovation and replacement are essential for maintaining a good environment for students and staff. The elimination of state funds for construction and renovation means that school divisions must use funds that once went for student instruction to make needed repairs. 2. Strong Curriculum: We live in a different world compared to even 25 years ago. Leaders must think out of the box that pertains to the method of delivering instructions. Support new technologies, curriculums that improves achievement and the use of effective assessment methods. 3. Financial Strength: Continue Near, Medium and Long range financial planning, Adopt Lean Sigma 6 to facilitate best business and operational strategies, maintain open financial policy with the community. A. Teacher Salary Funding- Increase pay to reduce the national gap of $7,000 below national level. Virginia is the 10 wealthiest state and 29th in teacher salary. B. Increase Preschool Funding for inflation- Increase the amount of per-pupil funding for the Virginia Preschool Initiative, which has remained at the state share of $6,000 per pupil since 2008 and should be adjusted to account for inflation. 4. Teacher Recruitment: Recruit, select and place a diverse work force, hire skilled professionals with diverse educational and professional backgrounds by encouraging more STEM professionals to enter the teaching profession. 5. Lateral Partnerships: Brand and Market school programs and initiatives, increase communications with district stakeholders, DOD/ Military, Big and Small businesses, Parents and Teachers Associations. Promote community involvement by adopting a school, classroom or student.[6] |
” |
| —Marvin Harris campaign website (2016)[7] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Marvin Harris' 'Newport News Public Schools'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tiffany Rouse, "Email correspondence with Newport News Voter Registrar Vicki Lewis," March 7, 2016
- ↑ Marvin Harris, School Board, "About Marvin," accessed April 10, 2016
- ↑ Daily Press, "Civilian Army employee Marvin Harris running for Newport News School Board," February 4, 2016
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Campaign Finance Reports," accessed July 2, 2016
- ↑ Daily Press, "Editorial: Endorsement roundup," April 30, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Marvin Harris, School Board, "On the Issues," accessed April 10, 2016
