6 competing for seats on school board

WALTERBORO — It's a difficult time for the Colleton County School District.

The district recently eliminated 50 positions to account for what is at least a $1 million cut in state revenue. The school board doesn't have the ability to raise taxes, and the superintendent is retiring in the summer.

Voters will have the opportunity Nov. 4 to decide whom they want to help lead the district through the uncertainty. Six candidates are competing for school board seats in Districts 3, 5 and 7. Larry Varn II of Lodge is running unopposed for the District 1 seat.

District 3 incumbent P.A. Pournelle, the longest-tenured member of the board, is one of only two incumbents running for re-election. The insurance salesman will face Ricky Valentine, a former Colleton County Sheriff's deputy who served as a school resource officer.

Pournelle said it's important the board hire the right person for the superintendent's position. "It's a huge, huge issue," he said. "If we don't have somebody who has a good handle on what's taking place with South Carolina finances, we could really find ourselves behind the eight-ball."

Valentine said he wants to see more fiscal responsibility and accountability on the board's part.

"The budget is not transparent," Valentine said. "When they approach County Council with the budget, I don't think they're being open."

Political newcomers Mary Jones and Lucille Powers will face off in District 5 to replace Redell Fields, who did not run for re-election.

Jones said one of her priorities is making 4-year-old classes available for all children that age. "I want to make sure they don't have a waiting list," she said.

Powers is a former Colleton County teacher who wants to make the county's low graduation rate and hiring a new superintendent priorities.

"We have a 54.8 percent graduation level for our students," she said. "That needs to be worked on."

Miles Crosby, the only other incumbent running, will face off against William Bowman Jr. in District 7.

Bowman said he will restore confidence in the school board by being accessible and by spending more wisely.

"The thing that makes me the best candidate is that no one in District 7 will have to wonder who their board member is," Bowman said.

Crosby said he wants to help pick the new superintendent and complete many of the projects that have already been started.

He said his 10 years on the board makes him the most qualified. "I'm not one who has to go in there on a learning curve," Crosby said.

PINCKNEY A. POURNELLE III (i)

DISTRICT: 3

DATE OF BIRTH: March 31, 1949.

FAMILY: Wife Terry and two children.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Walterboro High School in 1968. Received a bachelor's degree in physical education from The Citadel in 1973.

OCCUPATION: President of the Cannady Insurance Agency in Walterboro.

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE: Colleton County School Board since 1984.

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: I was a teacher, head coach and athletic director in North, S.C., for two years.

NAME A SPECIFIC GOAL YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IF ELECTED: I'd like to see the 4-year-old program established for all students. Until that happens, test scores won't change here, in South Carolina, or anywhere.

RICKY W. VALENTINE

DISTRICT: 3

DATE OF BIRTH: Dec. 20, 1966.

FAMILY: Two children.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Walterboro High School in 1985. Received an associate's degree in business management from Limestone College in 1999.

OCCUPATION: Owner of Valentine Driving School and Valentine Pest Control. Left as director of Colleton County Animal and Environmental Control in September 2008.

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE: None.

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: Nothing.

NAME A SPECIFIC GOAL YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IF ELECTED: To rebuild the community's and teacher's trust in our school board.

MARY T. JONES

DISTRICT: 5

DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 21, 1951.

FAMILY: Husband Cleveland and two children.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Walterboro High School in 1969.

OCCUPATION: Director of Colleton County First Steps. Retired from the Colleton County School District in June 2008 as the after-school coordinator for Black Street Elementary School.

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE: Served two years as chairman of the banquet committee for the Colleton County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: I love children.

NAME A SPECIFIC GOAL YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IF ELECTED: I can speak for the children. I can speak for the adults. I can speak for the para-professionals (staff.) Number 1, they don't get enough money.

LUCILLE F. POWERS

DISTRICT: 5

DATE OF BIRTH: May 1, 1944.

FAMILY: Three children.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Herndon High School in Virginia in 1962. Received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Charleston Southern in 1989 and a master's degree in elementary administration from The Citadel in 1996.

OCCUPATION: Office manager for Summerville Endodontics. Retired four years ago as a Colleton County math teacher.

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE: None.

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: I am an avid horse fanatic. I have three.

NAME A SPECIFIC GOAL YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IF ELECTED: I'm really a teacher-student advocate. I'd like to see a positive climate for both teachers and students in our schools.

WILLIAM BOWMAN Jr.

DISTRICT: 7

DATE OF BIRTH: Nov. 6, 1971.

FAMILY: Wife, Shelissa, and two children.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Walterboro High School in 1989.

OCCUPATION: Professional photographer.

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE: None.

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: Most people don't know I was in the Air Force for eight years. The reason they don't know is because I was stationed in Charleston my entire career.

NAME A SPECIFIC GOAL YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IF ELECTED: One of the goals I hope to achieve is a better relationship between the community and the school board.

MILES S. CROSBY (i)

DISTRICT: 7

DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 6, 1959.

FAMILY: Wife Bonnie and two children.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Walterboro High School in 1977. Attended Trident Tech.

OCCUPATION: Real estate agent for CarolinaOne in Charleston.

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE: Colleton County School Board since 1998.

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: That I'm a grandfather and I love every minute of it.

NAME A SPECIFIC GOAL YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IF ELECTED: We've got projects that are outstanding that I would like to see completed. I would like to see more rewards for the best and brightest teachers and to continue working with the administration to bring scores up.

Reach Andy Paras at 745-5891 or aparas@postandcourier.com.