Faulk to seek seat on school board
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on February 20, 2012 1:46 PM
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Ven Faulk
Ven Faulk is making his third attempt in four years for a seat on the Wayne County Board of Education.
The father of five children in the school system -- ages 13, 7 and 6-year-old triplets -- credits them with being the motivation for throwing his hat in the ring.
The president of Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home and Crematory announced his candidacy for the District 2 seat, currently held by Len Henderson.
Faulk actually vied for that seat in 2010, after it was vacated by veteran board member Shirley Sims and the county commission was tasked with naming a replacement.
He had also been a candidate in 2008, when he squared off against Eddie Radford, now board chairman, for the at-large seat. Faulk received 46 percent of the vote.
"I prayed about it, my family and I talked about it and I prayed about it some more," he said of his decision to run again.
His main concerns for the district are facilities and technology, as well as funding.
"Our county lacks compared to the counties around us," he said of the latter. "I think that's going to take somebody that's going to work with the commissioners.
"I deal with budgets all the time from being on the fire department, Arts Council, Partnership for Children. It's all about what you can do with this little bit of money."
A win for him would also position a business owner on the board, he added.
"The Board of Education is directed to lead the schools but they have no say-so over their funding," he said. "In other words, they can only take what they get. Maybe there's a way for the Board of Education and commissioners to work together to get more of a handle on their funding to help them get more."
Faulk said a few years ago he served on the facilities and real estate committee that had been recommended by the Evergreen Solutions study of the school district, which gave him a different perspective on things.
"We toured all of the Wayne County schools, taking notes, pictures and talking to their staff," he said. "After these tours, it is very obvious that we need improvements in our facilities in some cases new schools.
"I believe in community schools and the idea that happy students, parents and teachers make for a positive learning environment."
As far as District 2, where his family has lived since 1985, the biggest need he'd like to address is more involvement of parents and caregivers.
A 1983 graduate of Goldsboro High school, he attended Wayne Community College, N.C. State University, Mount Olive College and Fayetteville Technical Community College. A 24-year member of the Dudley Volunteer Fire Department, he is also a graduate of the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Wayne County and a member of Wayne County Shrine Club and Mount Olive Masonic Lodge 208.