Editor’s Note: George Bewer is one of 13 candidates seeking a spot on the November school board ballot in Johnston County. Below are his answers to questions from the Johnstonian News. Four candidates either declined or did not respond to our questionnaire. They were Al Byrd, John Fischer, Jenn Gurley and Joe Preston. Six candidates will advance to the general election this fall.

What grade would you give the school board’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and why?

BREWER: I would give it an A. The reason why is because we have never been through this before. A lot of people never like the handling of it, but you had more who did. I look at it like this: Yes, some kids got behind in school, but our kids, teachers and staff were kept safe from something we have never been through. We can’t put the health of our teachers and kids at risk when something so harmful can affect certain people in different ways. I would not want to gamble with anyone’s health. As far as our kids getting behind in school, we need to work together and get the resources out there to help get these kids back on track. Let’s just hope we never have to go through this again. 

Superintendent Eric Bracy’s goal is to have all Johnston schools earn a C or better on their state report card by the end of the 2023-24 school year. And yet the school board last fall extended Bracy’s contract through the 2024-25 school year. Do you support the contract extension beyond his stated date for having all schools earn a C or better?

BREWER: I would agree with the contract extension because COVID was out of his control and kids did get behind. But he should be working overtime to get the resources and funds into these schools to get the job done. We are losing teachers, and I feel we can get more out of our teachers and more resources and programs back into our schools to help get our kids back on track.

County Commissioner Fred Smith recently noted that school spending in Johnston is growing faster than enrollment. Is Johnston spending too much on its schools?

BREWER: Costs are going up on everything. How do you put a price tag on our kids’ education? As long as the money is going in the right places and we are being transparent with everyone, then no, we’re not spending too much on schools. You should want to invest big in our communities, and that starts with our schools, which are our future.

The school board has asked the county to put a $253.5 million bond issue on the November ballot. Do you support that amount? Or would you favor something more or something less? The school has a list of building needs. What would be your building priorities if elected?

BREWER: I would support that if not more because unforeseen issues always come up. Just a rough number, but I would say $260 million. I would have to sit down and look at all the needs myself and see them with my own eyes to evaluate if the numbers are correct. We have to be careful with spending money and spend it right and be transparent with everyone. I would definitely attack any hazardous and harmful building issues that could affect our kids right now and then look at everything else We have to keep up with our growth; that’s something we can’t stop. We just have to get 10 steps ahead of it, which we should already be.

The N.C. Public School Forum has called for the elimination or revision of the state’s A-F grading system for the state’s public schools. How should North Carolina grade its schools to ensure that children are learning and that taxpayers are getting their money’s worth in education?

BREWER: No, I don’t agree with that. Why would you get rid of something that we as parents all understand? If you change something like that, it will complicate how some people will read their child’s report card. But I would have to look at the options and see how complicated it would be. It will be hard to get simpler than A-F.

What do you consider to be the greatest issue facing Johnston schools, and how would you address it?

BREWER: Politics is hurting our schools. We need to get rid of it and get back to teaching our kids. Our kids are the ones getting hurt, so we must end the political mess that’s being injected into our school system. Then let’s pay teachers more, and we will also get well-qualified teachers back into our system.

About George Brewer

Family: children, George Jr., 17, Aaliyah, 14, McKenzie, 11, Kobe, 8.

Education: 2002 graduate, Smithfield-Selma High School. 

Occupation: self-employed.

Political experience: none.

Community service: youth basketball, football and baseball coach.

Religious affiliation: Christian.

Online: on Facebook, George M. Brewer for the board of education.