Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008

School board filing ends with at-large heat

By John Marks

Enquirer Herald

LAKE WYLIE -- Two Clover School Board seats are all but decided, while voters will have a choice of three candidates for the lone at-large position up for election in November.

Current board chairman Steve Brown and Bryan Ghent, both of York, and Melanie Wood Wilson of Lake Wylie will contend for the at-large seat vacated by 24-year board veteran Windy Bartee. The at-large seat is open to any resident in the school district attendance area.

"I just thought we needed some good representation from our area," said Wood Wilson, 45, the only Lake Wylie resident running.

Wood Wilson is a 30-year resident of Lake Wylie who attended Clover High School and is now working as a Realtor. She has one child in the sixth grade at Crowders Creek Middle School and another in the seventh grade at the junior high. She has volunteered for five years with Crowders Creek PTA, and is concerned many current school board members do not have children in the district.

"I felt like we needed somebody who's all about the kids," Wood Wilson said.

Ghent, 38, who was born in York County, moved back in 2002 following time in California and New York City. He is single and doesn't have children in the district. However, he taught fourth grade in New York, high school in Rock Hill and general education classes at Winthrop University. Ghent sees himself as a "lifelong learner" who believes "local government is something everyone should be involved in."

"As a public educator and teacher, I've just seen what works well and what doesn't work well in the classroom," he said. "I want to take that experience and judgment as an effective educator and apply them to decisions that are made on a higher level."

Brown, 51, is a 12-year board member and the current chairman, but is switching from his current position in Seat 3 to an at-large candidacy.

"I'm looking at possibly moving," he said, "and in looking for a house, I want my options to not be limited to the Bethany area."

Brown does not have students in the district, but has two sons who already graduated. He says it's a "critical time" for Clover in terms of growth and the need for leadership.

"I'd just sort of like to see those through to completion," Brown said.

The two district seats up for election, Seats 3 and 4, have no opposition, said Wanda Hemphill of York County Voter Registration and Elections Office.

Franklin Pendleton, a 16-year board member, returns to Seat 4 with plans to continue current board work, particularly juggling the increasing numbers of students with decreased funding. Jack Grier Jr. will assume Seat 3, vacated by Brown.

The election will be held Nov. 4 during the general election at locations throughout the district.