Outgoing BCCSD board thanked for service

The Barnwell County Consolidated School District board is almost entirely new after the recent election.

BCCSD board chair Ronald Brown and vice chair Ethel Faust are the only two transitional board members who will continue serving after the Nov. 8 election. Board member Edward Rockwell lost his bid for re-election to Catrena Hughes-Parker. Board members Joy Lindell, Rev. Norman O’Neal Jr., Fonda Patrick, and Richard Stanton did not seek a seat on the elected board.

“I commend the board for the journey we took on to unite District 19 and District 29 as one,” said Brown at the board’s Nov. 15 meeting. “Thanks for your dedication, commitment, and willingness to help out.”

At the Nov. 15 meeting, which was the last before the newly-elected members took office, BCCSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Marcella Shaw recognized all seven members for setting an example of how school boards should be.

“The appointed transitional BCCSD Board of Trustees were a phenomenal group to work alongside to ensure that the consolidated school district opened and operated with fidelity and professional integrity. They assumed a yeoman's task in a short period, and adopted numerous policies and procedures; established a 2022-2023 general fund budget; approved a bond to address technology and facilities needs; worked with the administration to provide retention and recruitment bonuses for all staff, just to cite a few of their accomplishments. In all things, the appointed Board of Trustees kept our scholars as the focus,” said Dr. Shaw.

Barnwell County’s legislative delegation appointed the seven-member transitional board in late 2021 to oversee the process of consolidating Barnwell County’s two smallest districts, District 19 in Blackville and District 29 in Williston, by July 1. Many had never served on a board before but accepted the call to serve.

“Thanks for your willingness to volunteer,” said Brown. “We’ve got people here from all walks of life but working for one mission for the betterment of all children.”

Speaking to Brown in recognition of his leadership as chairman, Faust said, “Without you being in that leadership role, we don’t know where we’d be.”

As Dr. Shaw presented each member a plaque from Rep. Lonnie Hosey and Sen. Brad Hutto, the board members reflected on their time.

“I was hesitant when I was asked to serve because I wasn’t sure how easy or hard it would be,” said Lindell, a retired Williston educator and lifelong Barnwell County resident. “It’s been a pleasure.”

Stanton and O’Neal are also retired teachers from Williston. They agreed with Lindell that it has been a pleasure to serve.

“My heart is in it,” said O’Neal. He looks forward to working with the new board in some capacity.

The school district has been a great home for Stanton. “It’s all been worth it,” he said.

“It’s definitely bittersweet for me,” said Patrick, a product of Blackville-Hilda High. She enjoyed working with her former teacher David Corder, who was D19’s interim superintendent and now is Interim Director of Operations for BCCSD.

Rockwell said he also leaves with bittersweet emotions because he enjoyed the past year and had hoped to continue serving. He thanked Dr. Shaw for her leadership.

Joining Brown (District 5), Hughes-Parker (District 6) and Faust (District 7) are Teresa B. Hughes (District 1), Liana Orr (District 3), and Tim Scott (District 4). The District 2 seat was decided by a Nov. 22 runoff between write-in candidates Ken Beatty and Eric Johnson, but results were not available before press time Tuesday.

Faust said she looks forward to continuing the board’s work after being re-elected. “I am proud to be behind, beside and before this district.”

The new board members were sworn in on Friday, November 18 during a special-called meeting to guide the BBCSD throughout the upcoming year.

“As the interim superintendent, I look forward to working with the newly-elected board of trustees to ensure that the district continues to operate at the highest level of academic, financial, and operational excellence. The new members have hit the ground running and, without hesitation, have all committed to new board member training in the near future. As a team, we anticipate nothing less than excellence for BCCSD,” said Dr. Shaw.

Brown was voted to serve as board chair, Faust was voted to serve as vice chair, and Orr was elected to serve as board secretary.

Hughes will serve as the Barnwell County Career Center representative until the position is voted on at the next meeting as Hughes currently serves as the career center board’s vice chair.

The District 2 representative will be sworn in at a later date.

The next BCCSD board meeting will be held January 23, 2023 at the Williston-Elko board room.