By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

HOOVER — The Hoover City Council interviewed two candidates for the open Hoover Board of Education seat on March 22.

Hoover residents Marshall Allen Hollis and Ronald A. Braswell interviewed for the seat.

Hollis is an attorney with the Simpson, McMahan, Glick and Burford law firm, while Braswell is a physician with Brookwood Ophthalmology.

Hollis, who interviewed first, said he felt the biggest issue currently facing the Hoover school system is concern over the budget.

“That’s the biggest issue right now for all school boards in all states,” he said.

Hollis said a priority would be working to identify and help special needs students.

“I think it’s vital to work with principals and teachers to identify those students as soon as possible,” he said.

Although school board members have no authority outside of the school board, Hollis said he would listen to parents’ concerns.

“It would be my goal to quietly serve,” he said. “Sometimes a parent just wants to vent, and all you can do is listen.”

Braswell, who has three sons, one of whom is in the school system, said he considered himself to be a good communicator, which would help him as a member of the board of education.

“There’s a lot of stakeholders in our schools,” he said. “I can be an objective, unbiased decision-maker.”

Braswell, who was a member of the Grenada County (Miss.) School Board for four years, said he’s dealt with financial and growth problems in education before.

“Growth is a good problem to have,” he said. “There are big challenges. You have to be judicious and look at the overall. Look at where the money is going.”

He said if parents or community members give him suggestions about the school system, he would pass them on to the appropriate person.

“We’re representatives of the school system,” he said. “The school board member has no authority outside of a school board meeting. I would send suggestions in the appropriate direction.”