Roderick West has announced he’ll run for the Selma City School Board District 1 position on Oct. 27.

West is a school board member. He also teaches school in Perry County. He is a 25-year veteran of classroom teaching.

The 52-year-old said, “The No. 1 thing I enjoy is helping the children.”

West says he knows about testing and wants to bring Selma High School up to standards. This year, Selma High did not meet its goals.

The basis for bringing up test scores is good reading skills. West advocates having teachers in every grade spend 30 minutes a day reading with students.

West also says he wants harmony on the board, although he believes people learn from one another even when they disagree.

West said he supports Dr. Austin Obasohan. “He’s easy to get along with,” the candidates said.

West also is a businessman. He and his wife own the Shoe Palace downtown next to Carter Drugs.

He received a bachelor’s from Florida State and has completed other studies in elementary education.

West said he would like to see more books in the schools. He also said he would like to see a new high school built.

“We need to move a little quicker,” he said. “We need stability there.”