_____________________________

Ernest Knight

18-Year-Old Running For
Portsmouth School Board

   Ernest Knight is among three challengers seeking a seat on the Portsmouth  School Board and he is also the youngest, at age 18.
    Knight just recently graduated from Churchland High School.  He was a stellar student, not missing one day from K-12.
    Knight is not deterred that his competitors range in age from 48 to 69-years, with 12-year incumbent Dr. Elizabeth Daniels being the most experienced. He believes he has a firm grasp on a set of issues he thinks should inspire voters to elect him.
    For instance,  with the closure of  Hunt-Mapp Middle School,  there is no magnet program in the city.

  Also, the other two middle schools are terribly overcrowded.

   Knight said that the school district is not doing enough to halt the number of students from dropping out, which he says stands at 40 percent.

Posted April 30, 2008

   Knight said that stronger mentorship programs should be implemented “to help students who may not have a good role in their lives at the time when they drop. Many kids are on their own. They don’t have a parent, let alone, a  good role model who would keep that student from leaving school and joining a gang.”
    Knight says reaction to his candidacy has been well received.  He said that he has stimulated a lot of support for his campaign from youth his age and people who believe in his message of change.
    “I have a firsthand look at what mistakes the school board has done to create a lot of negativity,” said. “I think I am getting a cross section of people who like what I am saying.    There are even people who have their children enrolled  in private schools who would come back to public school, if there were changes on the board. So that gives me a lot of confidence. 

 Click Here to Subscribe to the New Journal and Guide.