Steve Morgan and Milan Blake

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — His blindness is subject to questions, Cleveland school board candidate Steve Morgan said during the Lions Club candidates debate at Lee University last week.

Mr. Morgan faces Milan Blake and Rod Davis in the nonpartisan race to replace at-large member Max Carroll, who is retiring.

Mr. Morgan lost his eyesight three years ago to multiple sclerosis.

“Yes, it is an issue,” Mr. Morgan said. “But it can be a positive one.” Technology can help him face the mountains of paperwork that come with a school board position, he said.

Mr. Morgan said he lost his eyesight, not his vision.

Mr. Morgan has been active in school system issues for years, taking part in a blue ribbon panel that studied rezoning school districts and leading the effort for a new Mayfield Elementary School.

Mr. Blake agreed that technology is widespread and could help Mr. Morgan with the position.

“As a technology person, that’s why I want our kids to get a good education so they can go into technology fields and provide that kind of help. I don’t think it’s an issue.”

Mr. Davis did not take part in the forum. Two other school board races are up for election, but Evelyn Rockholt in District 1 and Murl Dirksen in District 2 are unopposed.

ON THE ISSUES

Willingness to ask the council for a tax increase:

n Milan Blake: “If we on the school board have done our due diligence and we have found that to be the case, I have no problem with that.”

n Steve Morgan: “The city school budget is $33 million. I can’t see that a tax increase is needed anytime soon. But it’s a four-year term, and we don’t know. So I am not going to make a promise that I would absolutely not ask for a tax increase.”

Consolidating city and county schools:

n Steve Morgan: “When you talk about merging two school systems you are talking about state law, jobs to be merged. Hamilton County is a good example. Shelby County is a good example where consolidation created some very unique challenges. ... However, combining services is being done now, and I would promote that in the future. Every school in the city and county serves lunch every day and buys gasoline every day.”

n Milan Blake: “I don’t feel we are at the point in time where we need to consolidate. There are some pros to it, certainly. ... But right now I don’t see where Cleveland needs to give up its right to its own school system. ... There are economies of scale, and we can recognize those and establish a good working relationship with the county school system.”

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