Golladay hopes to improve facilities

MOSES LAKE — Aaron Golladay believes schools are one of the most important parts of local government.

"In the small rural towns like Warden, to me the school is really the glue or the heart of the community," Golladay said. "If you have a strong school, you have a strong community, and vice-versa."

Golladay hopes to serve as part of the glue on the Warden School Board of Directors. He is running for Pos. 5.

On the board, Golladay wants to find a way to pass a bonds proposal in order to improve infrastructure.

"We've had two failed bonds here in the last few years, and I think that was taxpayers saying they want something different," he said. "They want some new ideas to address the same old problems.

The cafeteria is old, the gym needs renovations and a choir room needs to be constructed, he said.

Youth is probably Golladay's biggest challenge running for the position, he said. He is 36 years old.

Golladay believes his biggest qualification for the position is his leadership abilities.

"Every organization that I've been a part of over my life, I've always been a part of the leadership in it," Golladay said.

He is the Emergency Management Services captain for the fire department, served as vice president of the Grant County Farm Bureau, helped found the Warden Development Council and served on almost every position in the Lions Club.

Golladay said citizens should vote for him because he is an outside-the-box thinker and a proven business leader.

"When I look at the board we need more proven business leaders helping run the school district," he said.

From reading other election stories published in the Columbia Basin Herald, Golladay has noticed a theme.

"People are tired of talking to their elected officials and just getting told, 'Well we cant do that,'" he said. "Either they want something solved, or they want to know why you can't do that."

Golladay said he does not accept "I can't do that" for an answer. He wants to understand why and be able to explain the reasons to others.

In addition to looking at physical improvements, the district should look into offering day-care services, Golladay said. In rural communities, day care is a huge problem, he said.

New teachers are typically young teachers, and they come with young families. They would prefer if their children were close by, Golladay said.

"It just clicks to me that way," he said.

The current board has done an excellent job with the school curriculum, Golladay said. An issue the district is going to be facing is how to deal with a 15-year-old student who passes the Washington Assessment of Student Learning. According to the state, the student is ready to graduate, he said.