South Carolina’s Richland and Lexington School Board Candidates Gear Up for 2024 Elections Amid Controversy and Reform

Richland and Lexington School Board Candidates Ready for 2024 Elections

Columbia – Political involvement in South Carolina’s educational landscape is set to intensify as several school board members in both the Lexington and Richland districts face challenges in the upcoming elections. The candidate filing period concluded on August 15, setting the stage for the non-partisan races.

Last election cycle in 2022 witnessed significant changes in the school boards, especially in Richland Two where four new members displaced the supporting faction of now-former Superintendent Baron Davis. The change led to Davis’s resignation two months later, bringing about a need for a new superintendent and an evaluation of district-wide regulations.

This year, matters concerning district finances, contentious Early Learning Center construction projects, and state oversight are expected to significantly influence the Richland One’s races. Lexington’s districts, which attracted national attention over their handling of race and gender-related teaching materials and book removals, will also be in the spotlight.

Candidate Lineup for the School Boards

The Richland One Columbia school board has four seats up for grabs, with incumbents generally favoring Superintendent Craig Witherspoon and his administration despite increasing state pressure. The most contentious race could be in Lower Richland, with three-term incumbent Cheryl Harris facing opposition from former Lower Richland High School principal Ericka Hursey, who currently has a pending lawsuit against the district and Harris.

In Richland Two, three seats are available with current board member Lindsay Agostini opting not to compete for re-election. The Lexington One and Two school boards have four seats each open, with current board chair Anne Marie Greene and board member Brent Powers from Lexington One, and board members Beth Branham and Cindy Kessler from Lexington Two, declining to run for reelection.

Lexington-Richland Five will see three seats contested, with the board’s chair and vice chair, Rebecca Blackburn Hines and Matt Hogan respectively, not running for re-election.

The election is due on November 5, and residents can register to vote, receive a sample ballot, or apply for absentee voting at the South Carolina state voting website.

Increasing Political Influence

The approaching school board elections underscore the evolving climate of politics in education. With topics such as teaching materials, school policies, and district financing becoming points of contention, the outcome of these elections could have significant implications for both the school districts and the larger local communities.

The elections also highlight the broader debate on factors such as academic freedom, racial and gender equality in education, as well as the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic’s aftermath, which are expected to be important discussion points during the campaign and could influence the voting decisions of local residents.

As the board members set to define district policies and choose new leadership, the 2024 school board elections will likely play a significant role in shaping the future of the Columbia area schools and the education of thousands of students.