Four candidates are vying for District 50 school board positions
As the November elections approach, four candidates are vying for positions on Greenwood County School District 50’s board.
Here is a look at the candidates and what they hope to accomplish.
Ken Cobb: Seat 3Cobb, a Greenwood native who has served on District 50’s board since 2012, acknowledged the district’s “great strides” in areas like testing, but emphasized the need for continued progress and hard work.
To reach the same level of achievement seen in the elementary schools in middle and high schools, Cobb said the district could expand mentorship programs and create more opportunities to accommodate various learning styles.
He said while elementary schools have laid a strong foundation, it’s essential students struggling receive access to necessary resources to help them succeed.
Moving forward, Cobb said the district plans to buy additional metal detectors, update older school buildings and continue evolving safety procedures.
With a background in IT and engineering, Cobb said he’s been an asset in helping the district make decisions.
He said his goal is to ensure the district is “living within its means” and making the most of the resources available.
“I want to make sure we’re good stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars as far as building projects and capital projects go,” Cobb said.
With two grandchildren attending district schools and his wife and two daughters working as educators in the district, Cobb said he is “fully vested in District 50.”
He said he embraces the philosophy of former Greenwood High football coach, J.W. Babb, which emphasizes “leaving things better than you found them” and is committed to ensuring that he and the district do the same.
Teresa Goodman: Seat 3Goodman, a mother in the district, said she can be a “voice for people who sometimes aren’t heard.”
Over the past 20 years, she has seen how community needs have shifted while some challenges persist.
Through her position as the executive director of Community Initiatives Inc., she said she understands that helping youths succeed is a top priority for families.
She is committed to building on “the great things that the district already has” by ensuring services are “equitable and fair across the board.”
“I want to make sure that, strategically, District 50 is able to empower and serve everyone with innovation and collaboration through different partnerships,” Goodman said.
Goodman said she intends to stay up-to-date on new safety policies and procedures to ensure the district adopts the best practices for students, teachers, staff and visitors.
“We want to make sure we’re providing a high safety standard for our children,” Goodman said.
While serving as vice president of the South Carolina Free Clinic Association and working with the Food Bank of Greenwood County, Goodman has developed skills in fiscal management, assessing liability and safety standards and strategic success planning.
She also prioritizes transparency, striving to ensure the community is aware of and understands the board’s decisions and reasons behind them.
“If we concentrate on what matters most, and that’s serving the children, they will have lifelong success,” Goodman said.
John L. Kinard: Seat 7Kinard’s deep ties to Greenwood, including 43 years of teaching physics and math, along with his grandchildren who attend or will soon be attending district schools, motivated him to run.
He said he wants to give back to the district he loved working for by ensuring that students and teachers have a stronger voice in the directions schools operate and he thinks that increasing “communications at all levels” will be crucial for improving teacher retention.
Kinard explained that change can’t “simply be dictated” but must come through listening and incorporating others ideas.
“I really believe that change comes from within,” Kinard said.
He commended the district for the strides the elementary schools have made in boosting state test scores.
To build on that success, he aims to expand tutoring services and create additional support networks for middle and high school students,
Safety is also a top priority for Kinard, who wants to ensure the district continues to implement and refine safety protocols.
“Our school resource officers do a fantastic job,” Kinard said. “They really have our students’ best interest at heart.”
As president of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church congregation, a member of the Greenwood Chorale and a minister to those in the detention center, Kinard said he’s developed strong community ties.
He thinks that actively listening helps him understand and find effective ways to approach issues happening in Greenwood.
David Trent: Seat 7Trent, who was first elected to District 50’s board in 2016, said he is dedicated to “taking care of and looking out for the kids in the middle,” the ones who will “stay in the community and make Greenwood their home.”
With a background in business, Trent said he brings a fresh perspective to the board, “thinking outside the box” and focusing on strategic initiatives.
Serving on the Greenwood SC Chamber of Commerce’s board, Trent said it has allowed him to see firsthand the challenges businesses and the community face.
“Economic development and education, they go hand in hand,” Trent said. “When students win, the community as a whole will prosper.”
Trent emphasized the importance of maintaining existing facilities and ensuring schools receive the support they need while being financially responsible.
He said the district’s No. 1 mission is ensuring students are in a safe environment every day.
To prioritize safety, the district has enlisted several external sources, including SLED, to conduct safety audits.
With children attending district schools and being a Greenwood native, Trent said he’s witnessed significant growth and changes during his tenure on the board.
He thinks he has helped raise awareness of the board’s initiatives, leading more people to understand their efforts.
“We’re not there to tell the teachers how to teach,” Trent said. “That’s their specialty. We’re there to be advocates, manage the facilities that we have and manage the money that’s entrusted to us.”
The general election will take place Nov. 5.
Originally Published by Index-Journal on: Oct 17, 2024
By MYA ATTEN matten@indexjournal.com
Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/four-candidates-are-vying-for-district-50-school-board-positions/article_4004f43c-8a55-11ef-94f1-4f3da45f2262.html