Brian Sloan announced Monday his bid for re-election to the Hall County Board of Education Post 2.

The Hall County native will finish his first four-year term on the board this year and said he decided to run again to continue working to lower the dropout rate and improve school technology.

“Even with some of the worst of times economically, so many encouraging things are happening,” Sloan said following his announcement at the board meeting Monday night. “However, there are many challenges yet.”

Sloan said he expects some competition this year for the post and announced his bid early to address public concerns about the board’s past and future actions.

On his Web site for re-election, Sloan offered explanations of controversial issues such as the so-called “South Hall Shuffle.” When enrollment numbers did not match expectations for the newly-constructed Flowery Branch High School, the board opted to move Davis Middle School students there and moved South Hall Middle School students to the Davis Middle grounds. Some bristled at the decision that moved Flowery Branch High students from a relatively new building to another new building. But Sloan said it was the right decision at the time.

“It was the wisest use of taxpayers’ money, got two schools out of overcrowded conditions and put one of our oldest schools into a much newer facility,” Sloan said.

Sloan first ran for the board post in 2006. He also served as campaign manager for Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle’s 2004 State Senate campaign.

Sloan earned a bachelor’s degree in education from North Georgia College and State University in 1983. He currently resides in Hall County with his wife, Annette, and he has three children. He also is currently serving his 11th year as a pastor at Chestnut Mountain Church.

The election process will begin in April.