Recently, the Marlboro County Branch of the NAACP hosted a forum for candidates running for various seats on the Marlboro County Board of Education.

The candidates participating in the event were:

—Chairman: Jackie Branch and Michael Coachman

—District 2: Michael Toms

—District 3 Charles “Chuck” Graham, Nikki Lynn Pruitt

—District 5: Dr. Rippin McLeod Jr.

—District 7: Danny Driggers and Deborah Peterkin

—District 8: Farrell Bethea, Rena Smith McLain, and Leevander McRae Jr.

Question: Why are you the better candidate to be elected to serve the children, teachers, and staff of Marlboro County School District?

Michael Toms

It is getting late in the evening and the sun is going down. Here in the Marlboro County School District, it is getting late. We don’t have time to continually go through the motions of trying to do what we need for our school children. At the end of the day, what really matters is the future of our children. When you look at data, data shows that only 20% according to 2021 data from the state department. It shows that 20% of our children are career and college ready. They are our future. Day by day, I grow older. I am depending on them to be the new doctors and new lawyers and everything I need to make sure I live comfortably in my old age. And that is why I threw my name in the hat to come back and represent Marlboro County. Because one thing I do know, we need sound leadership. We need to come together and make sure that we can hold all accountable that be accountable. And that means everybody. This is all the children, all teachers, all the administrative staff, and the board itself. We need to be careful. We need to make sure we come together to create an environment that is conducive to learning and that all our children are being in a safe environment. These are the things that we need to do. Our children don’t have to be like us. Dillon and Marion, which are similar districts to ours, we fare pretty weak. But when compared with Chesterfield and Darlington, two neighboring counties, we fall further behind. All the time in the community, people are saying jobs are not coming to our area because of the school system. Maybe it’s true, and maybe not. But when I looked at the data, the data doesn’t lie. We have 20% of our students’ career and college ready. Chesterfield has 64%. You tell me where the industry is going to go. We need leaders that are going to hold our school officials’ foot to the fire. We need to set standards. We need self-assessment. We need to be able to go back, check, and make sure what needs to be done is being done. There’s no more time for us to have to sit around and wait. We can’t sit around and argue about things that don’t matter because at the end of the day, it is student achievement. We all need to come together to make this a reality. That’s why I am running for school District 2. I ask for each and every one of your support. Not only will I be representing District 2 but all the citizens of Marlboro County.

Michael Coachman

I feel like I’m the best candidate for the job at this time. I have a wealth of experience on this board. I have been on this board for 14 years. I have been a public servant in this community for over 35 years. There is no room for any mistakes. We need a leader that unites and pulls the people together. I have shown that leadership skill in my community, in this county, and we’ll continue to do so on this board. The children are our future. Right now in education, like Mr. Toms said, it is crucial. There is no room for mistakes, there is no room for error. We have to work together. As board chair, I feel like with my leadership skills, and my 35 years working in the community, I can unite this board so that we can get the right administrators and the right board to pull together to get things done. So we bring the right people to this county so our children can have success in the classroom. As a board member, one board member can’t do anything by himself. Once you sit down at the table, you have the children of this county’s lives in your hand. You have to have the power to stand up for them. It’s not about black and white or me and you. It’s about these children. So if you can’t stand up for these children in this county, you don’t need to be here. I’m here because I have been in public service for 35 years. I know this community. I know the schools. I know teachers, I know the children, their parents, and grandparents. Twenty-seven years ago, I turned my life around, so I could make a difference in my family’s life. God put children in my life. I started out with volunteer coaching. This is the path that he put me on. This is the path that I’m going to stay on because I know this is what he wants me to do. So I’m running for this board chair seat because this is the opportunity now that I started. I have sat on this board for 14 years and watched board chairs with no experience come in. You have to know policies and procedures when you come on this board. I know policy and procedures. I have developed compassion through strength and leadership skills to lead this board in a positive, professional, and a loving way. And most of all to support the people in the county that work in the school district. Our teachers, principals, custodians, and bus drivers are the lowest paid people in this county but they are the heart of this county. Too many times, we have paid the top administrators up at the top. We got to somehow make a difference by balancing it out. My goal would be to pay the people that are on the bottom so we can keep them here. They are our community so we need to support them. We have a shortage of bus drivers nationwide. Bus drivers are leaving Marlboro County to go to Chesterfield County to make more money. We have to be able to keep our bus drivers, keep our custodians, keep our teachers here and bring back home those people who want to work here. I am just proud to be a part of the Marlboro County School Board and a part of the children’s life in this county. I am here for a reason. That reason is the success of the children and the citizens of Marlboro County.

Rev. Artemus Woods Jr.

I truly believe that our children are the future of Marlboro County. We have heard from Mr. Coachman and we have heard from Mr. Toms. Those statistics are very true. We are falling short. We should be thinking about our children and all of the staff that works in this district. I believe we are too top-heavy in the administration. I think those who are in the trenches that are seeing our children every day as teachers, custodians, bus drivers, and principals should have everything they are supposed to, to make sure these kids are successful. When I think about being a servant, I watched my father, I watched my mother, who were educators for 30 years. My father was a board chair in the Clio area. There instilled in me that you fight for what you believe in, and you fight for the truth. And one of the things that they instilled in me is that every child can learn. I served on the board for four years. I know the board’s policies. I know the procedures. I have sat back for four years and watched how this district has been so top-heavy. I believe it is time for all Marlboro County citizens to come together and have one focus – to make sure our children are getting the best education. The future is technology. We should have our schools prepared with everything these teachers need so kids can be successful. At the end of the day, our students should be our first priority. We are providing a solid education and advocating for teachers, advocating for the bus drivers, advocating for the janitors, and advocating for them to make sure they are successful.

The children are the future and that is why I believe am the best candidate. I have been dealing with kids for 15 years. I am not a politician. I am a servant. I want to serve in a way to impact. I believe that all of us come together. it is not just representing District 8. District 8 is just a part but all of us are a part of Marlboro county. We are here as one family and one body. We should be lifting each other up. I think I am the best because I advocate for the best of our schools in Marlboro County.

Farrell Bethea

I think I am right for District 8 because I got kids in the district and my kids’ education matters. I think I’m the right choice because I am out there. I go to the schools. I see what’s going on. I see that classroom management is not in place. I see our kids in the classroom asleep. They’re not learning to sleep. If you put me in, I’m going to be an advocate to have administrators in these schools for at least two years. You can have a vision for the kids, but you cannot create a vision when you keep changing administrators. Marlboro County High School in the past four years has had three principals. Since 2005, we have had three superintendents and two interim superintendents. We have a $41 million budget. I plan to advocate and bring higher pay for our teachers. We are in for teachers. Our teachers are leaving and going everywhere for pay. We are top-heavy. We have to make a choice at the top and set the bar. I think I am the right choice because I will be an advocate, for councils, the districts, of the organization for our kids. I talk to kids everyday. Our kids are giving up on themselves because they see us as a board argues. If they see us arguing, they are not going to care. I really believe our pre-K, and elementary curriculum is way behind. We need to get on a state-mandated platform. We are behind. We have high school kids reading on a fourth-grade level. The first thing industries look at when they come to our county is our education. Does this county have the right educational people to make our plan grow? We don’t. We are the lowest in the state. I think as board members we need to show ourselves accountable because we’re failing the kids. We need a superintendent. We have to get a superintendent to lead us. if you don’t have a stable superintendent, everything is gonna just fall to the wayside. I really feel I am the right choice. I am out there and I see things going on. Malcolm X once said education is the passport to the future for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare. Today is our responsibility for the best and future Marlboro County School District.

Nikki Lynn Pruitt

I believe I am the best candidate because I was born and raised in Marlboro County. I have three little girls, one of which is at McColl Elementary Middle School. I have a vested interest. My other opponents do not have children in the school system. So, I believe that makes me a better candidate in this situation for District three. A parent will go to lengths’ end for their children. I am not only concerned about my children but a youth minister for eight years for teenagers. Years ago, I sat down with the kids and I told them to read the Scripture and they cannot read the word “because”. That was very concerning to me because it was a 14-year-old little girl. And I have been to homes where I’ve seen kids sleeping on the floor with mattresses and using towels for curtains. There is something wrong with our county when we are that impoverished. That right there is why the industry is not coming here. Our parents don’t care about our children. They don’t care to sit there at home and study with their children. Teachers are struggling in the classroom. Teachers don’t care because they aren’t getting paid enough. Where’s the money? The money is going currently to a logo for a district. That’s thousands and thousands of dollars. I worked for the county for 10 and a half years. I worked in building codes for two and a half of those years, that’s an asset for your school board because, in the school board requests, there are building issues. For example, the field house. I have a lot of insight on that and wasn’t able to speak on it because I am not a school board member. I was a real estate appraiser for six of those years. In my time, I saw where people were getting taxed inappropriately and getting major tax cuts on their tax bills. Therefore, your teachers aren’t going to get paid. And custodians and everybody else isn’t going to get paid enough. All because our people are not getting taxed appropriately. We need to work with the County Council. We need to work with the City Council on fixing all of our problems and not just our school board. It all starts with the teachers. Teachers are boots on the ground, with the office and the classrooms. They are the career that creates all the other careers. I’m an absolute teacher advocate. I believe that if we have more satisfied and happy teachers then we would have children who learn better. I have spoken to many, many teachers since I decided to run. And, in doing so, I sent out a little survey to teachers that went to school with me and don’t teach here. I asked why don’t you teach here? They said they would even come back for lower pay if they were appreciated and able to educate the way they should. These are just a couple of things I’m passionate about. I believe I’m the best candidate for our district because of my experience and the fact I have children in the school system.

Dr. Rippin McLeod Jr.

I worked for the Marlboro County School District for 24 years. I stayed here and I went from the classroom all the way up to assistant superintendent. I am vested in Marlboro County. Our people are leaving. The industry is leaving. But our number one priority is student achievement and our kids getting a good education. Because when they get a good education, then they can go anywhere and to do anything. I’m a prime example of that. I started here at the University of Michigan and got a degree. I went to USC and got a degree. I ended up at South Carolina State with two degrees. Our kids can do it. As many of you know from my exploits over the past year, our people are leaving because they are not being treated well. If you can’t pay them, you can at least treat them like somebody. I’ve seen our district go up and I’ve seen those test scores come down. I know where the bodies are buried. I will be there because I’m running unopposed. I’m planning on being in there fighting for the students. A good education is something that no one can ever take from you. They can take your life, but with a good education, no one can ever take that from you. That is something that’s permanent. I want community input whether I am in your district or not. Most people know where to get a hold of me. Just let us know so we should bring it up. Because if nobody knows about it, then it doesn’t get brought up. I also believe in transparency. We’re talking about your money and so, therefore, your money should not be spent frivolously because I don’t spend mine frivolously. So why should I spend yours like that? I ask for your support because all of us are going to have to come together to rectify the situation we have right now. When you’re down at the bottom, there’s no place to go but up. I ask for your support for all of us to come together for the benefit of the students of Marlboro County.

Rena Smith McLain

When there is no vision, the people share perish, but he who keeps the load, heavy is he. We all know what is wrong with Marlboro County. Why am I the better candidate? I have been there. I’ve been a parent that sent her child to college. I thought my child was an honor student and get there and I had to pay for a tutor because she didn’t get what she needed. I have worked in Marlboro County as a teacher assistant with low pay. I volunteered at Clio Elementary School. I served overall for nine years as the vice president of the PTA. We need the parents’ involvement. It’s not just the school district. It takes a village. That’s everybody. That’s the county. That’s the town. Everybody coming together to get what we need for Marlboro County and our students. I have a niece that had to move out of Marlboro to get her child the special care that he needed because he was a special needs child. There are plenty of special needs children in our county that are not getting what they need because we don’t have the right program funding. We need to get the right programs for them. The state requires that you do have a paragraph of five sentences. We have to hold our teachers accountable. Why five? Why not seven, eight, or nine? We have to do more than what the state requires. Everybody else in surrounding counties are doing more. They are requiring more. They are pushing their teachers, their students, and everything. If you push them and you give it to them, they will do it. I think I’m the right candidate because I am a fighter. You can’t tell me that suddenly the sun stopped shining. You got to tell me why that sun is not going to shine and what can we do to make that sun shine. We need to make sunshine in Marlboro County. We need to get together the school, and the county. Everybody needs to get together and get on one accord and make the sunshine in Marlboro County with our children. When we start out with the children and give them the education that they need, maybe we can get jobs here. Maybe we can get our hospital back. Maybe, we can get doctor’s offices and stuff like that. We can get people to come. We got to get them back. We got to find out what can we do to get them better.

Jackie Branch

In 2007, I started coming to board meetings. I sat on that front row at every board meeting for a couple of years. Then I decided that I wanted to run and I’ve been a board member for 12 years now. My wife and I, along with my three kids are all products of Marlboro County Schools. I want to continue to fight because I’ve got an extra reason now. I have got a new grandbaby. I want to see things better for him when he gets that age. I’m going to fight for him, and I want to fight for your kids, your grandkids. Mr. Coachman mentioned that he had the most tenure on the board. And he does. And he’s been around for a long time. I’m right there behind him. But every year, we get through continuing education. We go to conferences to learn about policy, finance and law, and everything. We all have a lot of training for this. For the last 12 years, I have been an advocate for the kids and employees. I have a lot of employees who reach out to me when they’re afraid to reach out to the administration. And I’ll do everything I can to help them get things done. As a board chair, I would like your vote. But as an individual board member and a board chair, there’s only so much we can do. We are only one vote. We need to put our differences aside and we need to unify this board. The community is watching us. The kids are watching us and when they see us not acting like we’re supposed to. I would like to ask the citizens of Bennettsville, Clio, Blenheim, McColl, and Wallace to consider voting for me in this upcoming election. Don’t forget it takes a village to raise a kid. And we need all to pitch in and do our part.

Chuck Graham

I love my teachers. I feel like I am a good candidate because I have fought this fight for a long time. I’m here. I’m from here. I have a vested interest in Marlboro County. I have kids. My oldest daughter graduated from here. I graduated from here. I went to college, and I am back here. They say sometimes the fight isn’t about you. My fight isn’t about me. My fight now is for Marlboro County. Why am I the best candidate? Whether it is my district or not, I volunteer at every school in Marlboro. I don’t just volunteer for the kids. I volunteer for the teachers. I volunteer for the administration. I volunteer for the people who put something in me. So not only is it just about giving back, but I have a responsibility. My responsibility is to Marlboro County. My responsibility is to administration. My responsibility is for the people who believed in me. So why am I the best candidate? Because I’m going to keep fighting. It isn’t about what we’re doing wrong. It’s about getting back to our problems. It’s about solutions. What are we going to do to fix some of the things that are going on? We can sit up here for days and talk about the issues that are really affecting us. But the best part about it is finding a solution to fix all of these problems that we have. We have wonderful teachers here. We have wonderful kids here. Whether it is leaders or the community, I will instill that confidence, not only in our teachers but our kids. It’s got to work two ways. We can’t give the kids everything and give the teachers nothing. We have to support from both sides. So the reason why I feel like I’m the best candidate is because I realized that it’s going to take us working together with teachers, working together with kids, working together with administration, working together with the superintendent, and working together with the community. We must realize that the community means together. But for us to sit down as one and realize that we have solutions. Marlboro County is a wonderful place. People say they don’t want to come back because we keep telling them not to come back. We tell them what’s wrong. Nobody else from the outside tells us about our issues. It is us telling other people. I say let’s stop telling everybody what’s wrong. Let’s fix the things that are wrong and show people how beautiful Marlboro County was, Marlboro County is, and how beautiful Marlboro County will be.

Danny Driggers

I live in District 7. I am elected from District 7. But I represent all of Marlboro County as far as the school board. Every one of us represents Marlboro County. We are all from different districts but we represent the same thing. The best way for me to tell you why I think I’m a good candidate for District 7 is to tell my beliefs, what I support and what I am going to endorse if elected. I think the school board needs a clear vision. We need to know where we are headed and where we want to go. We have got to have it. We have got to cooperate with each other. We’ve got to work together with each other. We’ve got to come together and do that. We’ve got to support our teachers and our administration by providing a safe, controlled environment for our classrooms. We have to have our classrooms under control. I believe in fair pay for all of our employees in the Marlboro County School District. I believe they should be trained to upgrade any school district employee, it doesn’t matter if it’s the teacher or teacher assistant, if it’s a bus driver, whatever. If there’s a program that can get them upgraded and trained, I believe in that. We have to follow the budget that we have. I hold some reference to industry and other things. Our tax base is not the best in Marlboro County. The tax base, we cannot compete with Horry County. We cannot compete with Greenville. We have a hard time competing with Dillon and Florence. We have to work with that budget to make that money work for our county. The only way to increase that is to increase taxes. We have to focus on our students. We have a challenge out there for students to make them more aware of what they got to do or make them aware of how they get there. Offer extracurricular activities. You might say that’s not that important but sporting events, our band, BETA club, and art will make a well-rounded student. They need more than just the classroom. They need other stuff involved in their lives and make them better people. We need to provide an avenue of study that is job-related as well as academic. We need the school board to work together to make all this work. Nine members, we have to work together to make this work. I support a more challenging curriculum and accountability for all Marlboro County School District employees. I support enforced discipline, rules in the classroom and in the school, and support the training of teachers and employees. And I support school safety. We have to have our schools safe for our students and teachers and administrators.

Deborah Peterkin

This is my moment. This is where I grew up. This is where I came back to when I retired from the military. This is where I came back and saw things when my kids were in school. I saw someone in the special education program struggling and needing help, and somebody from the church reaching out and helping them. At this particular time, I am now teaching at West Florence High School as a special education teacher. I wanted to teach in Marlboro County. But I knew my fight was a different type of fight. Because I needed to be in a location where when it came time to come back and fight for our kids, I didn’t have to worry about my job. But I also need to go someplace where I can learn what’s the best way to do special education. Our kids are falling behind but it’s not just in Marlboro County, it is all over. For the teachers that are on the front lines, and this era of COVID. I have veteran teachers that are saying these years now since COVID has been our worst. There are people that are moving people all the time. And our kids don’t get that mental help. Teachers don’t get mental health. We’re losing people. We have to do more. We have got to make sure that when we appoint the person that is going to be the next superintendent that they are a person who cares for our kids. And in that position, they show that they don’t care that we don’t extend their contract. We need to get rid of the reputation that if you come to Marlboro County that you are going to get paid if you don’t do your job on your way out the door. No, if you don’t do your job, you don’t get your contract extended. We have worked together. We love kids. We love our community. We’re going to put aside our differences because we expect our kids to go to school and not get in fights. And if someone slaps them in the face, they’re supposed to take it. But then they look at the adults, the ones in charge. They say “Hey, you don’t control the way you talk. You don’t treat each other with respect so how do you expect us to treat each other with respect?”. I love my home. I am not going anywhere I am going to keep fighting for our kids wherever I go. When I say District 7 wherever I go. I am a Bulldog.

Leevander McRae

We love kids but, as board members, we have to establish we are the leaders. We actually supervise the highest educator, which is the superintendent. The superintendent has principals that report to him. You have individual teachers that report to that principal. It’s good we have the ideology of kids reading on what level. Let’s transition over to where we spend our money. in order for me to hire a consultant, I have to make some good money marketing. So once I start making money, I will get a consultant to help elevate our test scores. This is something I feel we can definitely use. I supervise individuals on a daily basis. I will understand accountability. Accountability is something that we all need. Teachers aren’t purposely not teaching the kids. But it seems as though the approach that we’ve given over the years is not simply working. Let’s ask some outside individuals. It’s not that hard to ask for help. In order for me to lead, I have to know my job. I have a lot of teachers that teach and report to the principal that reports to the superintendent, and when they come to me, I thoroughly see if this superintendent is a good fit for our kids. What we have to realize is that we don’t work for the superintendent. The superintendent works for us. Whoever we select, let’s establish policies and procedures. Whoever we interview, let’s have that individual show some statistics and how he raised scores. And not just bring a nice PowerPoint and say I can do this or I can do that. Let’s have some actual facts because the only people who are getting punished are kids. Kindergarteners’ scores are at 16.5%. Statewide, it is 39.2%. So before we elevate to the highest level, our kids are failing before they even know what school is. I don’t have time to speculate on it but that pay is something we really have to look into. We’re going to get this and we’ve been missing stuff on a tremendously lower level.

After a 10 minutes intermission, candidates received a final question with two minutes to answer it.

What is the best way to address the difference of opinions on the board or between the administration?

Leevander McRae

The best way to address differences between administration is to get both sides. Basically, bring both sides together to see which makes feasible sense that actually helps the district. It’s not right or wrong. It is better for the district itself and the teachers. Also, I would like to know if we can’t solve it on a district level, maybe by an independent source.

How can the school board know if its goals are being accomplished and policies are being implemented?

Nikki Lynn Pruitt

I’ve spoken to many teachers, and that is where you will find your answers. Like I said earlier, teachers are the boots on the ground. They know exactly what’s going on in your schools. They know what’s being implemented and what’s not being implemented. And that right there is who you need to be speaking to all the time. And for me, I let my teachers know they are in a safe place when they speak to me. I let the concern be spoken. Out in public, I am their voice, without fear of losing their job. I feel like teachers need to have a place to speak and not be afraid to lose their job.

What is the best way to address the difference of opinions on the board or between the administration?

Deborah Peterkin

The best way to address this is to remember that we all are individuals and to show respect to each other. And without bias, everything has to work. We respect the individual, let somebody have their say, and you acknowledge their say. Then you find a way together to come up with a compromise. That’s the best way that we can address each other’s differences.

How can the school board know if its goals are being accomplished and policies are being implemented?

Dr. Rippin McLeod Jr.

The school board can tell if its policies are being implemented by looking at the day-to-day operations of the school and looking at their policies. In other words, as board members, we should be very familiar with the policies. Just look at what your administration is doing. What are your schools doing? It should be obvious if they’re following your policy, and it should be obvious if they’re not following the policy.

What is the best way to address the difference of opinions on the board or between the administration?

Michael Coachman

If I have a difference of opinion with another board member, we address that in an executive session. We work it out in an executive session. If it is with the administration, we address that in an executive session with the superintendent and the administration. This is the best solution to work it out and work with one another. This way, you come out of an executive session with a clearer understanding. If you work on it one-on-one, you get out there and make yourself look bad.

What is the best way to address the difference of opinions on the board or between the administration?

Rena Smith McLain

You are always going to have differences of opinion. Everybody has the right to their opinion. My thing is to hear every side out. Then maybe it is just a misunderstanding. Hear every side out and then come to some conclusion. If it is with the board on a policy or something like that, you have to take a vote and the majority wins. If it is with an individual, you have to come to some kind of mutual terms.

What issue do you believe Marlboro County School District needs to address in our school programs?

Rev. Artemus Woods

First, we need to find out where the problem is. You identify the problem, then you address the issue. You address the issue after a thorough investigation. We have already written a lot about our education system. But we don’t find out where the problem is if we want to fix it. I believe in order to do that, we use all the resources we can to find where our kids are being successful and where they are not being successful. What is working for us and what is not working for us? Then collectively come together and find a solution to make sure that we’re addressing all the issues so that everyone will be successful. That will be helping with outside resources, or we can use what we have here to collect data and find out what the issues are. And how we can accomplish this to make sure that we solve the problem so we can be successful in this district.

What issue do you believe Marlboro County School District needs to address in our school programs?

Charles Chuck Graham

Right now, one of the biggest issues that we need to address is the budget. The budget is one of our biggest things whether it is teacher retention, teacher tax, or test scores. Test scores is one of the biggest issues we need to address as kids have been out for the last couple of years. The scores are low. People look at the test scores as a measure of how the district is doing and how the kids are doing. So between the budget and raising test scores. We lose teachers in Marlboro County. We lose the teachers so we have to figure out ways to not only get new teachers but retain teachers.

How can the school board know if its goals are being accomplished and policies are being implemented?

Farrell Bethea

I just passed out to everyone a piece of paper. On the piece of paper is the statistics for the last three years for the Marlboro County School District. It shows the growth from 2019 to 2022. This is one way of showing it. Our board now has done something I like. Every department has to report to the board meeting every month and give out a report for their department. You have to know the policies. If you do not know the policies, you are not going to know what direction we are going. So you have to be familiar with the policies from the beginning. Being out there, I see stuff that a lot of people just don’t know. So the board has to get familiar with policies. And keep reports from different departments and then notice them.

What is the best way to address the difference of opinions on the board or between the administration?

Jackie Branch

When it comes to the board members, I was raised not to air my dirty laundry out in public. And if we’ve got issues between individual board members or the board as a whole, we need to discuss it behind closed doors so that we don’t cause a disruption in our meetings. I think that’s one thing that we lacked is the impressions you are playing for the cameras in the open session. We need to sit down and we need to talk about it. As far as it comes to the administration, the board has to walk a tight line there. If a teacher calls me and she’s got an issue, before I even hear what she’s got to say, I need to ask her to have you gone to your principal or your immediate supervisor because it can be a conflict of interest. If down the road, the board has to take action on it, we could be made to recuse ourselves because we know too much information. I think we need to follow the board policy and do the right thing.

What is the best way to address the difference of opinions on the board or between the administration?

Michael Toms

The board must present itself as a unified effort. As you have noticed with anything divided, the community feeds on that. This further divides the board. I’ve been there before. The executive session is the place to air out those particular grievances. However, you have to remind yourself that you will have misunderstandings. Sometimes you have the facts and your cohort doesn’t have the facts and put them out there. You have to provide a unified front because the board sets policy. The board sets the vision. And if you follow your vision, follow your policies, and follow everything that you need, it’ll be easy to come together and agree on everything that you need to. Do your best to try to have differences in private and always try and unify in public because our children are looking at you. I think someone had said it earlier. You can’t expect high school students to act accordingly if you are not acting accordingly. Your administration is not going to act accordingly, if you’re not acting accordingly. You are the role model for the district. If you want them to act right, you have to act right.

What issue do you believe Marlboro County School District needs to address in our school programs?

Danny Driggers

In our school programs, we need to be conscientious that our curriculum is not coming up to standard. I’ve heard several other board members talking about fourth-grade education. We have implemented some of those things to make our reading and everything better. The process has started. If you can’t read, you can’t do anything so curriculum has to be one of the things that we need to implement to get things forward. Now, another thing that I will harp on here, and it may not be exactly what you asked me. We have a timeframe in our public sessions that we have, each month, for people to come with public comments. I really believe that part of our problem to make Marlboro County move forward is we need more public participation. We need more people coming after our meetings and telling us. It has always been my experience that growth is encouraged through constructive suggestions. And what I mean by that is, you come and you talk at our meetings and you offer us ideas. We are a nine-member board. We don’t know everything. To make our education, our students, and our system get better, everybody has to be involved and come out to help us. Let’s get everybody involved. Whether I am a board member or not, it’s going to be an advantage to the Marlboro County School System, if there’s more public participation in our education.

Early voting update

Early voting will not be at the Marlboro County Voter Registration office but at the Marlboro County Courthouse.

It will be from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on Oct. 25-29 and Oct. 31, Nov. 1-5. This includes Saturdays.

The in-person registration deadline is Oct. 7. The deadline to register by online/fax/email is Oct. 9.

The mail registration deadline (postmark) is Oct. 11.

Oct. 28 is the deadline to request an absentee mail ballot. The deadline to return an absentee mail ballot is Nov. 8.

Election Day is Nov. 8. The runoff election date is Nov. 22.