Michael Dzik, the executive director of the Jewish Community Federation of Greater Chattanooga, and Kevin Burke, 23-year-old local business owner and Ooltewah High School graduate, are running for the District 7 County School Board seat.
Ben Miller Jr., who ran a close race for the seat in the last election, has picked up papers, as has Linda Moseley.
Attorney Joe Conner has long held that seat, but is not running again.
Mr. Dzik has already qualified with the Hamilton County Election Commission. Mr. Dzik is a native of Chattanooga with an honors diploma from Tyner High School. In addition, he is a graduate from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a degree in education, secondary social sciences.
Mr. Dzik is married and has two children. Both children attend a local Hamilton County public school. Mr. Dzik is an active member of the PTA and volunteers in his children’s classrooms on a regular basis.
He said, “I am extremely excited about working to make positive change in the Hamilton County Schools. I am very passionate about public education.”
Mr. Dzik said he would like to see more transparency with the school budget, working with parents to create better discipline in the schools, and would take a common sense approach to the workings of the school system. In addition, Mr. Dzik will work with the County Commission and the entire District 7 constituency to insure clear communication about the Hamilton County school system, he said.
As the School Board representative for District 7, Mr. Burke said he plans to work "to provide a safe learning environment for all students and educators, promote and practice fiscal responsibility, encourage parental and community involvement in the school system, and demand transparency and accountability of the Department of Education to the citizens of Hamilton County."