Still, councils at nearby elementary schools such as Gompers and Gillespie and nearby high schools such as Fenger and Corliss stand to benefit. Spann runs her operation like a precinct captain. She encourages church members to consider running at the schools they or their relatives attended and distributes school maps so they can see which schools are in their neighborhoods. In distributing registration forms, she tries to get people to fill them out on the spot. I give them direction, because sometimes it s harder for them to do by themselves.
People are scared, they think it s a big-wig job.
The church, headed by Rev. James T. Meeks, got involved in the recruitment effort through Laura LeBreton, a consultant working with the Leadership Co-op. LeBreton hired Spann to assist her. Salem Baptist did not receive funding from the Leadership Co-op. However, the School Board provided training and materials. The recruitment drive is more targeted and personal this time than it has been in previous LSC election years, says Spann.