ABOUT GREG
Native Transylvania County resident.
I am a criminal justice law enforcement instructor under the North Carolina Sheriff's Education and Training Standards Commission. I have taught at numerous schools across the state in areas such as Detention Officer Certification Course, Basic Law Enforcement Training, N.C. Sheriffs Leadership Academy and countless in-service training topics.
I am a Former substitute school teacher with the Transylvania County School system.
I have a vested interest in our schools! I attended and graduated from the TC school system. My two sons attended and graduated from TC schools and my granddaughter is now a TC student.
Two careers: I retired in 2015 after a 30-year career in law enforcement and I also retired in 2007 after a 20-year career in the US Air Force. I served three years on active duty and 17 years in reserve.
I am a local business owner (Cochran Storage Group) made-up of Pisgah Mini Storage, 280 Mini Storage and Penrose Mini Storage.
I am currently serving as Chairman of the Transylvania County Parks and Recreation Board.
I serve on the Transylvania County Salvation Army board, and am a member of the local Red Kettle Campaign.
I am a member of the Transylvania County Planning Board member.
GREG
COCHRAN
Transylvania County School Board
Elect
Transylvania County School Board
"PREPARING OUR STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE."
What is wrong with our schools? Better said, why are so many students leaving our school system? In rough numbers we have 3200 students in the county schools. About 800 more students are eligible to attend one of the nine schools we have. Why are so many students (or parents) choosing to attend other schools and what can we do to bring them back? (other schools include charter, home schools and students who attend other school systems.)
Let's have better communications with parents, teachers and school staff on concerns, questions, suggestions on how to make our schools better. As parents we need to be able to have input into and be able to make suggestions on things that effect our kids. There are a number of ways for parents to be involved, lets work together to improve our schools.
I am sure all of you, are aware of the shootings and assaults that have occurred at schools all around our nation and the world. While our communities are one of the safest areas around, that is changing. Elements of the criminal community are moving in and we have to increase the levels of security to protect our kids. Even little Townville SC, and really nice community about an hour drive from us had a school shooting a few years ago. We cannot be complacent.
As we know now, the money that was approved by the taxpayers for the school bond was never enough to build even one school as most voters believed. Let’s work towards using that money then to repair and make safer with a more comfortable and safer learning environment in all of our schools.
Again, lets fix the schools, Rosman Elementary School has some major fire safety issues that must be addressed pretty much immediately. Other schools need roofs replaced, HVAC systems repaired, 20,000 gallon fuel tanks in danger of spilling fuel into our soils to be replaced among other issues. We must move forward on making the needed repairs and improvements.
6 of our 9 schools were graded by the state at a level “C”. The only 2 schools to grade out higher were Rosman High and Brevard High (Davidson River was not graded). We should be able to do better.
Not everyone is cut out for college and if we can provide access to more vocational training for the students then everyone will benefit. We need more electricians, plumbers, HVAC experts, builders, etc. Let's give more students a chance to learn a trade that they can make a good living off of and support our community.
I have a lot of experience in government budgets as well as strong financial knowledge mixed in with just plain common sense. Let’s decide how and when to spend money and when the expenditure is not needed.
GREG'S FOCUS
I'm a native of Transylvania County, a lifelong Republican and I am running for the TC Board of Education.
I have a vested interest in our schools. I attended and graduated from the TC School system. My two sons graduated from TC schools and now I have a granddaughter in first grade, in the TC school system.
I want to do all that I can to help ensure the success of our school system and the students within. Our future relies on providing the best education for our student population. Currently, six (6) of our nine (9) schools have a grade of C. Shouldn't we be focused on improving those scores?
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY REPORT CARD
MEET GREG
