Experience on the Beaufort County school board
A closer look at the board members:
Mary Cordray, Vice-Chairwoman. District 8 - Bluffton
Background: Budget director for the University of South Carolina Beaufort. Former management services director at the University of South Carolina, assistant with the kindergarten and first-grade music program at Church of the Cross and secretary for a Hilton Head Island community action group.
Years served on board: 3. First elected in 2012 and will be up for re-election in 2018.
Role in current controversy: Declined to publicly state position on Darlene Moss' hiring.
Laura Bush. Secretary, District 9 - Bluffton
Background: Former Beaufort County employee assigned to the SC Department of Social Services.
Years served on board: 25. First elected in 1988 and then, after period away, again in 2002. Will be up for re-election in 2016.
Role in current controversy: Declined to publicly state position on Darlene Moss' hiring.
Earl Campbell. District 1 - Lobeco
Background: Part-time employee of the U.S. Post office and U.S. Army veteran, and former employee of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Years served on board: 25. First elected in 1990 and will be up for re-election in 2016.
Role in current controversy: Declined to publicly state position on Darlene Moss' hiring.
Vacant. District 2 - Beaufort, Lady's Island
Background: Seat belonged to chairman Bill Evans, a strong supporter of Moss, until he resigned Oct. 6. A special election will be held to fill this seat.
Michael Rivers. District 3 - St. Helena Island
Background: Veteran and former accountant for the U.S. Air Force and an ordained minister.
Years served on board: 17. First elected in 1998 and will be up for re-election in 2018.
Role in current controversy: Critical of Darlene Moss' hiring and has questioned board's lack of checks and balances with superintendent.
Joseph Dunkle. District 4 - Port Royal
Background: Firefighter and paramedic for Savannah River Nuclear Solutions and member of the Sea Island Rotary Club, Leadership Beaufort Alumni Association and Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce. Former Riverview Charter School board member and treasurer.
Years served on board: 1. First elected in 2014 and will be up for re-election in 2018.
Role in current controversy: Critical of Jeff Moss' decision not to inform the board of nepotism rule changes, and supportive of increased oversight.
Geri Kinton. District 5 - Okatie, Beaufort
Background: Former office manager for Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Riverview Charter School board member and district classroom aide.
Years served on board: 3. First elected in 2012 and will be up for re-election in 2018.
Role in current controversy: Critical of Jeff Moss' decision not to inform the board of nepotism rule changes, and supportive of increased oversight.
Paul Roth. District 6 - Okatie
Background: Former national TV programming and news producer, bank chairman, advertiser, Hilton Head Island community theater founder, author and fiduciary on several other boards and councils.
Years served on board: 3. First elected in 2012 and will be up for re-election in 2016.
Role in current controversy: Supportive of Darlene Moss' hiring and strong supporter of superintendent overall.
Evva Anderson. District 7 - Pritchardville
Background: Real estate agent and former chairwoman of two district school improvement councils and classroom assistant.
Years served on board: 3. First elected in 2012 and will be up for re-election in 2018.
Role in current controversy: Declined to publicly state position on Darlene Moss' hiring.
Bill Payne. District 10 - northern Hilton Head Island
Background: Former employee of the Beaufort County School District, serving more than 40 years as principal, assistant principal and teacher.
Years served on board: 2. First elected in 2013 and will be up for re-election in 2018.
Role in current controversy: Supportive of Darlene Moss' hiring and strong supporter of superintendent overall.
JoAnn Orischak. District 11 - southern Hilton Head Island
Background: Former teacher of kindergarten through second grade, software applications instructor and course developer, founder of Parents of the Academically Talented of Hilton Head, and secretary of a district school improvement council.
Years served on board: 3. First elected in 2012 and will be up for re-election in 2016.
Role in current controversy: Critical of Darlene Moss' hiring and believes board has granted superintendent too much leeway.
This story was originally published October 9, 2015 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Experience on the Beaufort County school board."