George Cline Runs for Warren County School Board with Focus on Trades, Community, and Common Sense

George Cline, a lifelong Warren County resident and local business owner, is running unopposed for the Fork District seat on the Warren County School Board. With more than five decades of community ties, Cline brings both personal experience and a practical vision to the race, shaped by his years as a parent, employer, and advocate for career-readiness in education.

“I’ve been a resident here for 56 years, all my life. I attended Warren County High School and graduated from there. Put eight kids through school. They all graduated from here as well,” Cline shared in a recent interview. “I really want to see our schools thrive.”

Cline’s platform centers around improving opportunities for students, especially those pursuing skilled trades, and increasing community engagement in education. As the owner of a construction company for 34 years, Cline says he’s seen firsthand the urgent need for a better-prepared local workforce, and we’re not seeing enough people coming up to take our place.”

Cline is a passionate supporter of the Blue Ridge Technical Center (BRTC), which offers career and technical education to local students. But as demand grows, space is running short.

“I think it was last year we turned away 104 students. And we can’t do that,” he said. “If you got 10% of them into a career path, that’s still more than we had before.”

He’s already working independently to assess costs for a potential new building and wants to bring HVAC, plumbing, EMT, and firefighter training to the program. “We’ve looked at a couple of sites that the school has property for. Both sites actually fit very well. It’s just working out the details—and, of course, the big stickler all the time is money.”

Cline also proposes consolidating current trade programs into one facility to open space in the existing building for programs like robotics and public safety. “Hopefully, we can utilize that building and then put all the trades in another building and keep them in proximity.”

Beyond the trades, Cline stresses the importance of listening to parents, supporting teachers, and improving school facilities through better budgeting and maintenance.

“We need about $435,000 to fix [Hillard J. Barber Elementary School’s] roof,” he said. “We’ve got to develop a maintenance program so that every year a little bit of stuff’s getting done. It’s got to be built into the capital improvements.”

Cline believes many issues stem from putting off important decisions or not addressing problems head-on. “We’ve gone so long without doing anything—because of one, not having the money, and then two, just some seem like they’d like to kick it down the road.”

If elected, he pledges a practical and transparent approach. “I think the right people get on the board—we don’t have as many can kickers.”

Cline is quick to point out what’s working in the school system, too. “I love our schools. I’m a product of the Blue Ridge Tech Center. I’m a product of our schools. I got my education here and that springboarded my career.”

As a candidate with no official opposition, Cline isn’t slowing down. He’s staying active on the campaign trail, appearing at early voting sites and inviting community members to ask him questions directly.

“I’m not coasting—I’m out there working it,” he said. “Anybody who’s got any questions, feel free to come out.”

Cline believes every vote still counts, and he’s encouraging residents to make informed decisions.

With a foundation built on business experience, community service, and a deep personal connection to Warren County’s schools, George Cline is positioning himself as a practical, common-sense voice for the future of local education.