Linda Gerhold Hodges, 72, of Mathews, is running for a fourth term on the Mathews County School Board. Amy Bohannon-Stewart and Linda Hodges are the only two candidates on the ballot for two open seats on the school board.
If reelected, she said she will focus on student achievement, adjustments to decrease costs, and providing safe buildings and a safe environment for students.
In terms of student achievement, Hodges said her primary focus will be on students reading on grade level by the third grade. If students can’t achieve that goal, she said, the rest of their education will be more challenging and there’s a greater chance they will not graduate from high school.
There has been decreased enrollment in Mathews schools over the past 20 years, said Hodges, and the board has thus had to focus on reducing costs. Implementation of the recommendations in a recent energy audit has resulted in decreased costs for electricity, she said, and not filling positions that become vacant when tea...