THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603080260
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 105 lines
Two incumbents - the chairman and the vice chairman - and four others are seeking School Board seats in the May 7 election.
There is competition among three candidates in the Sleepy Hole Borough and between two in Nansemond Borough. The Whaleyville Borough seat is uncontested.
Here is a brief sketch of the candidates:
Name: Bruce T. Benn
Age: 29
Address: North Shore Drive in the Nansemond Shores neighborhood, Sleepy Hole
Occupation: Assistant principal, Bayside High School, Virginia Beach.
Benn's father, Mack Benn Jr., is a former Suffolk board member and superintendent of schools.
Why is he running? To bring a new - younger - perspective to the School Board; to help the board focus on what's needed to take the district into the next century.
What can he contribute? Insights as an educator with roots in Suffolk. He would like to see an ROTC program in both high schools and creation of a daytime alternative school for troubled students. As enrollment growth continues, he would like to see older schools renovated and new schools built.
Children in school? No
Name: Robert M. ``Bob'' Brooks Jr.
Age: 42
Address: 4800 block of Schooner Blvd. in the Driver area of Sleepy Hole.
Occupation: Agent with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Why is he running? He wants to ``give back'' to the district that's now serving his kids.
What can he contribute? He would help monitor enrollment growth in Northern Suffolk and keep City Council members and citizens aware of positive developments in the district.
Children in school? One at John Yeates Middle and another at Nansemond Parkway Elementary.
Name: The Rev. Mark A. Croston Sr., board vice chairman
Age: 37
Address: 200 block of Locust St. in the Walnut Hills area, Whaleyville Borough.
Occupation: Pastor, East End Baptist Church, Suffolk.
Why is he running? To further help schoolchildren. Unopposed.
What can he contribute? He would push to improve student achievement as measured by standardized tests; would look for ways to steer more students toward colleges and universities; would help the district deal with growth issues.
Children in school? One at Booker T. Washington Elementary
Name: James E. Perkinson Jr.
Age: 51
Address: Bennetts Pasture Road, Sleepy Hole area
Occupation: Building manager at Tidewater Community College
Why is he running? He's generally interested in public education. He wants to contribute to discussions about growth.
What can he contribute? He would like to help improve the district's image and look for ways to improve the overall quality of education.
Children in school? No
Name: John R. Riddick Sr.
Age: 69
Address: 700 block of Hollywood Avenue in the Hollywood neighborhood of Nansemond Borough.
Occupation: Retired from paint department of Newport News Shipbuilding.
Why is he running? He served on the board for six years (1975-1981) and says he is concerned about teachers' low teacher, low test scores and dropouts.
What can he contribute? Insights from previous experience on the board and support for the district's 10-year, capital improvements plan.
Children in school? No. Three sons graduated from Suffolk public schools.
Name: Board Chairman Arthur D. Smith
Age: 51
Address: 800 block of Garden Lane in Nansemond Gardens, Nansemond Borough.
Occupation: Associate dean/college registrar for Tidewater Community College
Why is he running? He wants to help keep the district on a path toward academic and other improvement.
What can he contribute? Insights from previous experience on the board.
Children in school? No ILLUSTRATION: Photos
James E. Perkinson
Bruce T. Benn
Robert M. Brooks
Mark A. Croston
John R. Riddick
Arthur D. Smith
by CNB