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Sather, Lallo in race for Eagle Point School Board seat Tony Lallo, Curt Sather Saturday May 6, 2017 at 4:26 PM May 6, 2017 at 4:26 PM Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT — A pair of newcomers will compete for Position 2 on the Eagle Point School District board. Longtime district parent Curt Sather will face off against local business owner and coach Tony Lallo. If elected, Sather, 49, said he hoped to break the status quo and offer some opposing views to the current board as well as provide "at least one board member from White City." Concerns for Sather range from he says are selectively applied bullying rules and ensuring high school students have some instruction or training in a usable trade before graduation. Another topic near to Sather's heart, he said, is that students should receive free lunches to ensure all have the same advantages and readiness to learn during the school day. "I would definitely make some changes to the bullying rules, for one thing," said Sather, noting he has had eight children go through District 9 schools. "We need to make it known that kids can't be pushing each other around. When it happens, however, it's not fair when the bully got away with it and then we punish the kid who was bullied and fought back. Sather said his daughter fought back after being spit on by a boy when she was in junior high and she was the only one who got in trouble. "Then the school got upset with me for saying my kids will never be in trouble with me for defending themselves," he said. "I don't believe in bullying but I don't believe in selectively applying the rules." Regarding a recent controversy about students using iPads incorrectly, Sather said he felt the district could do better but that he also believed that kids would find a way to use the internet whether at school or not. His primary focus for running, he said, was to offer some different perspective on a board that "seems very status quo." "I'm just tired of the same old, same old. On my Facebook ads, I told people, if you're tired of the direction and the way things are happening, then put someone else in the seat. ... Maybe I won't win, but I'm going to let (Superintendent Cynda Rickert) know I'm still around." Lallo, who could not be reached for comment, says in his voter pamphlet entry that he's a proponent of the district's career and technical education program, which helps students, especially those not focused on a four-year university after high school, to identify and train in various job trades. In response to a questionnaire, he said local companies have indicated they would be willing to participate in the classes and offer internships for students. Lallo is the owner of Xtreme Collision and Paint and the current director of Upper Rogue Pop Warner. For Position 3, incumbent Dan Hodges is running unopposed. A salesman for Wolsely Industrial group, Hodges election pamphlet states a willingness to continue as a District 9 board member to ensure students receive "the best education possible while protecting our taxpayer dollars." A former community coach, Hodges has served on boards for Upper Rogue Pop Warner and the Eagle Point Booster club. — Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. Email her at [email protected].