District 3: Todd Hull

Newcomer Todd Hull is clear about his reasons for wanting to serve on the school board. “I’m a parent, not a politician,” he said. “I’m running to help, not to take another office.”
Hull wants to bring academics back to the main focus of the Washington County School System. “I don’t think students have enough time in the classroom to learn what they need to know,” he said. “If the state is going to mandate so much testing, we need to figure out a way to help the teachers by having smaller classroom sizes.”
This goal relates directly to the capacity of the buildings, he said. “Right now, the biggest challenge is what to do with Boones Creek and the other aging schools. With Boones Creek surrounded by Johnson City, this needs to be looked at very carefully.”
The BOE also should take the lead in funding, according to Hull. “The school board needs to start putting money in the bank now to pay for the new schools,” he said. “They can’t rely on the county commission to do everything; they need to do their part.”
Hull established toddhullforschoolboard.com to share the ideas and strengths he would bring as a new member of the Board of Education.
He believes his professional experience in the justice system is a unique strength in this race. Following 20 years as a criminal investigator with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office, Hull earned his law degree and now serves as an assistant district attorney. “I’m bringing something to the table no one else does,” he said.
The present board has done a good job taking steps to improve security at the schools, he says, but warns the environment is constantly changing. “We have to be proactive rather than reactive.”
Having two children in the system would be an advantage to his service, in Hull’s opinion. “If you have that connection, I think a member would work harder, knowing you had to come home every night and answer your toughest critics,” he said.
While membership on the BOE and the county commission will see changes in the next few months, Hull said it is the responsibility of the school board to reach out. “They’ve got to have a healthy dialogue. You can’t sell something to the county commission if you’re not doing your part.”
Hull started attending school board meetings in November and believes members should never rubber stamp expenses. “There are a lot of nine (unanimous) votes,” he said. “Are you spending it because you have it? We need to know who it’s benefitting.”
According to Hull, it’s always good to have change on a governing body. “People get on a board and stay there and kind of lose touch,” he said. “A new voice with new ideas is something that is needed.”