School board races shaping upTurnover may bring big changes in Charleston County By Diette Courrégé (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The Charleston County School Board will lose 36 years of experience and gain new leadership after November's election. 
The Post and Courier/File Since three long-term incumbents will not seek re-election to the Charleston County School Board, the board's dynamic and the way it manages the superintendent could change. The school district's administrative headquarters at 75 Calhoun St. is pictured above. The shake-up could alter the board's current dynamic, and that has implications for issues such as funding charter schools and the way it manages the superintendent. The filing deadline to run for one of five open seats was at noon Tuesday, and three long-term incumbents will not seek re-election. Board Chairman Hillery Douglas, a 16-year veteran of the board; Vice Chairwoman Nancy Cook, who has eight years on the board; and member Brian Moody, who's served 12 years, will not be in this year's race. Their vacancies leave the door open for 10 candidates, some with familiar faces, to win a spot on the board. Candidates must live in certain areas, but voters choose the winners countywide. Candidates turned in petitions Tuesday with registered voters' signatures, and election officials immediately began verifying them. They hope to finish in two weeks. Candidates need 500 signatures, and each had at least 750 signatures on their petitions. Although this school board race doesn't seem to be stirring as much interest as the last — 20 candidates filed to run for the same number of seats in 2006 — the stakes probably are higher, said Gregg Meyers, who has been on the board 12 years. It's not an organized effort to overtake the school board this time, but fewer incumbents are in the race, which means more opportunity for a change in the board, he said. WHO'S FILINGThe county Board of Elections and Voter Registration must verify voters' signatures on petitions before candidates are official. Those filing petitions include: Downtown (1 seat) North area (2 seats)-- Chris Collins West Ashley (2 seats) Douglas said fewer candidates filed to run because the board has been relatively quiet and hard-working, and people don't come forward unless they're dissatisfied. Douglas said he's been on the board to help improve the county's school buildings and students' academic performance, and both goals have been accomplished. "It's time to move aside and let others with good ideas step forward and be a part of the education process," he said. "I think I've done my job. I've been on the board longer than most marriages last." One of the most controversial figures in this year's race is John Graham Altman, who held office for 30 years as a school board member and then a state lawmaker. Altman has been a vocal critic of the school district, and he faces competition from three others for two West Ashley seats. Incumbent and fiscal conservative David Engelman, a relatively quiet presence on the school board who often votes in the minority, will try to win his seat again. Moody, the other incumbent, is not seeking re-election but has given his support to commercial real estate broker and developer Chris Fraser. Ann Oplinger, a retired school district principal and teacher, will round out the West Ashley candidates. Oplinger ran for the West Ashley seat two years ago and came in second behind board member Ruth Jordan. Oplinger said she struggled about whether to run again because she doesn't like campaigning, but the idea of working to improve the district was enough motivation to try again. Three candidates are vying for the two open seats in the North Area. Former Brentwood Middle School teacher Elizabeth Kandrac, who has tried to run for a seat in the past but didn't have enough signatures on her petition, is one of those candidates. Kandrac sued the school district and won a federal case that claimed racial discrimination. She will face retired major and teacher Mattese Lecque and appliance business owner Chris Collins. Downtown constituent board Vice Chairman Marvin Stewart will face incumbent Toya Hampton Green and College of Charleston professor and Charleston Charter School for Math & Science board member Robert Russell for a downtown seat. Reach Diette Courrégé at dcourrege@postandcourier.com or 937-5546. |
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Comments
This article has 20 comment(s)
Posted by Thomas1776 on July 16, 2008 at 1:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nancy Cook the crook. How much does she get in Federal and State grant money for her operation?
Posted by karmann on July 16, 2008 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think we do need new leadership. I don't see how academics have improved overall for Chas County schools. If it were not for the magnet schools in North Charleston, there would not be any decent place to send our students. In addition, I am amazed at the lack of response from school board members when they are sent e-mails. Yes, I do expect elected officials to be accountable to those who elected them and from whom they received tax money.
Posted by ThinkAboutThis on July 16, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear CCSD Board Members,
Please go ahead and spare us the drama by releasing your dirty laundry issues now and not throughout the next few months!
Any e-mails, cuss words, dislike issues-let it out now!
Any name calling, she did this, he did that- let it out now!
Any unlawful use of funds and money- let it out now!
Then maybe the public can look at the candidates for true values they have to offer and not the usual CCSD IMO, immature ploys!
Posted by JDHawg on July 16, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe they need to overhaul the whole school system,start at the top and work their way down to the bottom. They also need to better apply the lottery
Posted by shoelaces on July 16, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It really won't matter who is elected or re-elected. Some people will complain no matter who is on the board.
And yes, there have been some academic improvements in the last few years. It takes time to bring about major changes.
I was never a fan of Dr. G-Johnson but she did implement SOME changes for the better. Yes, there were mistakes. IMO Dr. McGinley is working to continue the momentum and continue with improvements.
Just go to the CCSD website and pull up school report cards. You can see how some "low" schools are beginning to make improvements. Did all improve? Nope. You can't fix it all in a short time.
Now, are some things still screwed up in our schools? Yep. But we all know what it will take to make improvements. The people who need to be put on notice are the parents, not the school board and superintendent.
Posted by shoelaces on July 16, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
JDHawg:
Although I am not a supporter of the SC "education" lottery or of spending more money on education I agree with your comment.
If people want the most bang for their buck in education it isn't going to happen if the money is spent at the scholarship level. Educate them when they are young then they may actually earn scholarships from colleges and not need as much money from the lottery when they graduate.
Posted by jameschucktown on July 16, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thomas, sorry to see you are still around. Get some sleep.
Posted by charlestonpride on July 16, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Shoelaces...It doesn't help either when your principal submits a list of students that need to be retained to their Learning Comm. Superintendent and the Super. says you have to make the list "smaller" because it will make my record look bad when Dr.McG. reaads it.
No wonder the 9th graders can't read!
Posted by Thomas1776 on July 16, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
John Graham Altman is worthless. We don't need his pathological antagonistic personality and proven failed ways back on the school board. He is by no means a solution to anything.
Fix up your house instead, John G.... It's a bad reflection of your character .. and an EYE SORE to the community.
Posted by charlestonpride on July 16, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree Thomas1776 on both statements. Clean up those falling down, faded pink pelicans and do some painting.
Posted by bigwhip on July 16, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
1776 & PRIDE, a couple of clowns like you two ought to be on stage, the next one leaving. Neither one of you would make a pimple on a sorry bums rear. Why don't you two run for the job and try to contribute instead of dragging people down to your level.
Posted by shoelaces on July 16, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
charlestonpride:
Sorry if your principal does that. I didn't have that trouble this year when I slated students for summer school. I guess it's all about where you teach and who your learning community superintndent is.
BTW..I like JG. At least you know exactly where he stands on issues. But his house could use a flip.
Bigwhip...like I said, you will never make everyone happy so why bother trying???
Posted by Thomas1776 on July 16, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cook, director of Good Neighbor Homeless Shelters, has been openly criticized for being insensitive to the issue of teen pregnancy and more subtly so for racism.
director ... "Good Neighbor Homeless Shelters" .... operates on State, Federal, and local taxes ... and sometimes even small donations.
Audit.
Posted by Thomas1776 on July 16, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
City Receives $5,900,000.00 (5.9m) in Federal Funds to Help Homeless (in another state).
What is Cook's income for the years 2004 - 2007?
When a private organization receives public money via government grants, they are not exempt under the common law right, nor the federal and state FOIA laws.
Posted by belovedbliff on July 16, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope Marvin Stewart will get in. Shoelaces, please tell me the changes that Goodloe-Johnson made--changes which directly correlate to academic performance. Try to isolate all extraneous variables.
I am sure that you are aware of all the educational fads that do not impact student performance, but there may be a spike in performance. What was really the causal agent?
Also, when you look at these "gains" that you allude to, what subgroups are still struggling?
Posted by GG on July 16, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JGA is running again? God help us if he wins.
He's already shown us that he is an antiquated obstacle to progress in the CCSD. He voted to freeze the maintenance budget so the schools became dilapidated. He wouldn't vote for any new construction. He tried to micromanage the district administration, and he was just the most obnoxious, negative loudmouth against progressive changes.
Posted by moonpie on July 16, 2008 at 8:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Agreed GG he needs not be elected again for all the reasons mentioned.
Posted by mlm on July 16, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The more infamous members of the county school board, the ones known for malfeasance, bad words or both, aren't up for reelection or have chosen to step down. One might argue that one returning candidate and one incumbent of the 10 in the running could be so described. That leaves 8 out of 10 who are still worth considering. Without a doubt this crop of school board candidates has the credentials and experience that some sitting board members don’t have, regardless of how many years they’ve served. Most of these candidates aren't talking heads and at least half of them have stood up for something that made the establishment uncomfortable.
It would be nice if the debates this fall would be open to direct contact with the candidates. Although well intentioned, the League of Women Voters has done a very poor job in recent years by filtering what voters ask candidates. In the past, school board candidates have been protected as they crafted an image which too often turned out to be very different from how they acted once elected. If the school board’s performance is ever going to improve and match the goals CCSD has set publicly, then the new majority could start with being honest with the voters now.
We should know that Toya Green didn't support charter schools after she and the Post & Courier said she would. Marvin Green should be allowed to explain how CCSD and the constituent boards are supposed to work. David Engelman is soft spoken, but he has much to say when he is allowed to speak. Chris Fraser is a real estate developer. Does he have a position on closing schools and selling school properties downtown in order to balance operating expenses? Ann Oplinger's old school, Memminger, has been said by Toya Green and Gregg Meyers to be funded and staffed so it equals Buist Academy, but only as a PARTIAL magnet. Can the former principal of Memminger tell us if this is just smoke and mirrors? North Charleston has been terribly neglected by CCSD for years. What do the three candidates from "up North" have to say about how neighborhood schools can work for them and why so many District 4 students are being low-balled for failure at such an early age?
Posted by mlm on July 16, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If John McCain can address the NAACP convention and then take questions directly from the audience, then our neighbors who purport to represent us on a local school board should be able to do the same thing on a regular basis. I hope there will be real change in the attitude of those who will make up the next school board. If they work at it before the election, they could form a new and progressive majority on the board after November. But it won't happen if communication is still limited to one way monologues for two minutes twice a month. Board members have to be held accountable for their mistakes and their poor judgment. How else can they learn to do what’s right?
Maybe this particular example of bad behavior (not responding to citizens) by school board members can be shown the way out. These candidates can truly engage the voters in public meetings before the election if we let them. If they can’t stand the heat, then they shouldn’t be running for a seat on the school board.
Posted by Test2007 on July 16, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
School board my boo-tay.
Parents need to be actively involved. I remember one of the things I hated growing up was the athletic program. Not all of the sports, just basketball, football and baseball. They get these guys (yep mostly male) and have them thinking they are gods and are somehow entitled to things. That crap follows even into college. They get scholarships for playing football and their academic record is subpar.
I also think their should be emphasis on vocational education as well. Not everyone is university material or even wants to be.
I swear CCSB has more drama than a soap opera.