Terrebonne District 2 school board

Gregory Harding is the incumbent for Terrebonne Parish School Board’s District 2 seat, and also current president. He is running against Clarence Williams, who currently serves on the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority (TEDA) board, the Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center Foundation board and the Houma Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau board.

“Basically we’ve got some challenges within the school system and those challenges stem from the need for analytical and objective management within the school board,” Williams said.

Both candidates want to make sure the children of the parish are the top priority.

“My main focus is to make sure that kids have every opportunity they can possibly have to achieve all the goals that their heart desires,” Harding said, who added part of what sets him apart is his lifelong residency in Terrebonne Parish. He has spent 12 years on the board, and considers himself a mentor to children due to his volunteer work and time as the assistant director of Terrebonne Parish Recreation.

Williams said, if elected he plans to focus on policy, student achievement and will work towards building improvements in the school system.

Harding plans to stay focused on student dropout rate if re-elected.

“We’re trying to eliminate that as best as we can by implementing early detection programs,” he said.