Trending
BARNESVILLE --Voters will choose among two newcomers and two incumbents for the two seats available on the Barnesville Board of Education on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Andrew Daugherty has been a part of the Barnesville Exempted Village School District for most of his life. He said he would bring an analytical and technical approach.
"I grew up here in Barnesville. I attended Barnesville from kindergarten to high school. I graduated from Barnesville High School in 2008," he said. "My first job after college was actually working for the school district. I worked for them as their technology coordinator for approximately eight years. I really enjoyed my time there."
He is now an email administrator for dental offices around Columbus and the local area. He holds a degree from Capital University in Bexley, Ohio.
"There I majored in computer science and minored in psychology," he said.
Daugherty said he would bring this approach to the job: "There's some things that some people are concerned about, and my whole campaign is based off of the idea of data-driven decision-making. With that said, the thought is before any major decision gets made or any vote gets cast, there should be some kind of input, whether that's community input or students from the school, teacher, faculty, parents and the like. Then, of course, hard data, numbers and things like that go into account as well."
His platform is financial transparency and prioritization, faculty staff support and retention, student well-being, safety and security, and personalized technology support for the district.
He added that some groups are interested in bringing a soccer team to the district.
His family is from around the area and some are attending school in the district.
Darla Schnegg is a write-in candidate and is asking for the public's support.
"I missed the deadline to get on the ballot, so I went with the write-in candidate," she said.
This is her first run for an elected position. She said she is focusing on the educational needs of young people and their future opportunities.
"I was thinking mainly of the kids, because it is so important to have a good educational foundation all through from kindergarten up to graduation, and I just wanted to make sure they get the best of the best so that when they apply for colleges they can get into a good college."
Schnegg said if voted in, she will do her best to ensure the curriculum is "up to standard," adding she hopes to help broaden the scope of post-secondary choices.
Schnegg has been a nurse for 35 years and serves as a pastor for the Powhatan Amity United Methodist Church. She is also the director of the Epworth Center in Bethesda.
"So I'm used to being in leadership," she noted, adding she is open to new ideas.
She said there are many future opportunities the district could prepare for in order to give young people options to find good careers and remain in the area.
"Especially with the oil and gas as it's starting to filtrate to Belmont County, to have some education programs dealing with that."
She is married to Doug Schnegg and they have a daughter.
"I'm heavily involved in the ministerial associations and also with LifeWise Academy. I'm on the leadership team," she said.
Ed Eberhart has served on the board for the past two years after being elected as a write-in candidate to fill the final two years of an unexpired term.
"I've learned a lot. There was a huge learning curve, I think, when it comes to something like this. I feel like my time isn't yet finished, so I'd like to have another term to continue to serve the district," he said.
Eberhart said this was his first time serving on the school board. He was previously on the Belmont College Board of Trustees from 2015-21 as an appointed officeholder. Eberhart has been a real estate agent since 2005 and is also the pastor of the First Christian Church in Barnesville. He is involved in the Barnesville Area Education Foundation and the Rotary club. He said this has built his communication, listening and people skills.
"I've always been involved in the Barnesville community. I've always worked with kids a lot," he said.
Eberhart said he has been involved with every community group in Barnesville.
"I'm someone they can come to with their concerns, and I voice those concerns and I do my best to move things forward," he said.
In his time on the board, he has helped raise support for the new school stadium. He said the board is also looking to upgrade facilities while being financially responsible.
Eberhart pledges to continue being an unbiased voice, listen to people on both sides of any issue and work on bringing them together.
"I have no special interest other than what's best for the kids," he said.
Eberhart said the elementary school, middle school and high schools have been well-maintained but the district must look ahead to keep them maintained and create opportunities for students. He added the district's graduation rate is higher than the state average.
"We're proud of this, but there's always room for improvement."
He is married to Heather Eberhart, a high school teacher in Barnesville. Their two children are students in the district.
Barnesville Exempted Village School Board member Dennis Huntsman could not be reached for comment after repeated attempts to contact him by different phone numbers and through the superintendent's office.