Morgan Wall

Staff Reporter

DOBSON — Brian Gates announced his intentions to seek re-election to the Surry County Board of Education as soon as the filing period opened on Monday.

Gates, 40, is running for a third four-year term as the district four representative. The district covers the Dobson, Marsh and Stewart’s Creek communities.

He listed the numerous ongoing projects in the school system as some of the main reasons he is seeking re-election. He hopes to see them through since he was part of the board that started them.

“The major reason is of course we’re on the verge of opening two new schools and I want to see that through. The two schools will eliminate 39 mobile units which has been a major initiative of mine and the entire board,” he said. “We’re also working on the proposed renovations of Pilot Mountain Middle. With that, we’ll have three new facilities when the 2010-11 school year begins. We have a lot on our plate right now I want to see finished.”

He also talked about the start of the 1:1 laptop initiative in the school system this year that saw every seventh grader receiving a laptop. He hopes to see that expand to the eighth grade next year and continue on until students in seventh through 12th grade have laptops.

“That’s something I’m extremely excited about,” he said. “I want to continue that trend as we increase technology for our students.”

During the eight years Gates has served on the board, the school system has renovated a number of facilities and he hopes to see that continue as well. From building a new cafeteria at North Surry High School and creating additional classrooms at Central Middle School to installing air conditioning in the high school gymnasiums and applying for around $8 million in Qualified Zone Academy Bonds for renovations and general upkeep, Gates credits his fellow board members and the Surry County Board of Commissioners for having a vision and following through.

“I give a tremendous amount of credit for that to our county commissioners,” he said.

Gates is also looking forward to seeing the first graduating class from the Surry Early College High School of Design, a project that was started during his time on the board. In order to participate in the ceremony in 2011, he needs to be reelected.

“I’m very proud of that school and that collaboration with Surry Community College. We’ve been able to provide for students in a non-traditional learning environment. That is a wonderful accomplishment,” he said.

Gates believes he still has a lot left to give to the county as a member of the board of education and is proud of the accomplishments of the school system thus far.

“I refer to a former board member when I say the closer you are, the better it looks. I firmly believe that,” he said. “I feel I have a lot left to give and I hope this community will have faith in me to re-elect me for another four years.”

Gates is a product of Surry County Schools and along with his wife of 20 years, Sherry, has two children in the school system. Jackson, 11, who is in fifth grade and Cannon, 5, who is in kindergarten.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1991 and a master’s in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2006.

Gates serves as the judicial district manager for the North Carolina Department of Corrections for District 17, overseeing adult probation in Surry, Stokes and Rockingham counties. He is also serving as the interim acting district manager for judicial district 23.

Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.