Schooling and Politics: An Intertwined Future

As the familiar cacophony of chalk and bells begins to echo through the halls, a fresh school year ushers in a timely reminder: the importance of shaping the future of education throughout Richland County and Lexington County. Now more than ever, responsibility falls upon those who steer the educational ship. School board candidates across the two counties are setting their pieces, ready for the forthcoming battles of 2024.

Richland One: A New Season, New Fights

Four seats on Columbia’s School Board are up for grabs. The incumbents, all standing for reelection, are conspicuously supportive of Superintendent Craig Witherspoon and his administration; who face the daunting challenge of swerving the state’s scrutiny over district finances. Multiple issues on financial oversight coupled with a contentious early learning center construction project seem poised to play significant roles in the races.

The most dramatic race appears to be shaping up in Lower Richland, where long-standing incumbent Cheryl Harris faces a challenge from former Lower Richland High School principal Ericka Hursey. Hursey presented a lawsuit against Harris and the school district over alleged retaliatory reassignment following a controversial commencement speech. The ongoing case has now been elevated to federal court.

Richland Two: A Changing of the Guard

Three seats on the northeast Richland school board, currently held at large, are up for election. With Lindsay Agostini, current board member, not running for re-election following an unsuccessful quest for a state Senate seat, a reshuffle within incumbent ranks appears inevitable.

Lexington One: Opportunity Beckons

Four seats on the all-at-large central Lexington district board are up for grabs. As the present chair Anne Marie Greene and board member Brent Powers bow out of the race, a space has opened on the seven-member board. New faces and potentially fresh ideas may commence.

Lexington Two: The Game of Chairs

Four seats are up for election on the all-at-large West Columbia and Cayce district board. The exits of current board members Beth Branham and Cindy Kessler create a vacuum that is bound to attract those hungry for an opportunity to rewrite the educational narrative.

Lexington-Richland Five: An Outlook in Flux

Three at-large seats are open for contestants in the Irmo and Chapin districts. As the current board chair and vice-chair, Elizabeth Blackburn Hines and Matt Hogan, call it a day, a shift in the political equilibrium seems imminent.

The Road Ahead…

Running with the backdrop of a highly politicized educational world, each of these school districts seeks leaders who can help students recover from the aftershocks of the pandemic. As Election Day creeps closer, the hope grows for representatives who can navigate the shifting school regulations and the contentious debates encompassing instructive materials. South Carolina residents can register to vote on the state’s official site, offering sample ballots and an opportunity to vote absentee.