Special election: Where do the school board candidates stand?
Both candidates for the Beaufort County school board's vacant seat say they want to bring leadership and accountability to a board left rudderless in the wake of a nepotism scandal last year.
David Striebinger, a management professional, and Rebecca Cooper, a veteran educator, have made the board's handling of superintendent Jeff Moss a key issue of their campaigns. The special election for the District 2 seat, which represents portions of Beaufort, Burton St. Helena, Lady's Island and Fripp Island, will be held Tuesday.
Their promises mean whoever is elected to replace former chairman Bill Evans -- who resigned Oct. 6 -- will join the board as a critic of Moss and his actions in changing a district nepotism rule and recommending his wife's hire at the start of the school year.
"To be quite honest with you, I was appalled that somebody had the nerve to take that magic marker and they could change and employ a member of their family," Cooper, a former Savannah and Brunswick teacher and administrator, told the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette's editorial board last week. Striebinger, a retired Blue Cross Blue Shield manager, said the hiring controversy pushed him to run. He wants to help the board retake responsibility of the superintendent.
"I don't think Dr. Moss has internalized that he reports to the board. He seems actually emboldened by the discord on the board and he's overrunning it," Striebinger told the editorial board. "He's telling them how they should interpret things, he's modifying what the attorney says. He needs to be put back in his place."
While both agreed last week, Cooper only recently came to that opinion.
When interviewed in November, Cooper declined to comment on whether the board should review Moss' actions in his wife's hiring. And on Jan. 19, in an interview with a WSAV report on the issue of nepotism, Cooper said the board should "let it cool for a while until we address some other things."
Cooper was also asked whether the board had adequately managed the superintendent and called that a "loaded question."
Last week, Cooper told the editorial board she changed her mind after campaigning and learning more about the nepotism issue.
The board expects to read its draft of the nepotism policy for a third time and vote on a final policy Tuesday, the same day as the special election.
This week, each candidate was asked what they would like the nepotism policy to say in regards to the superintendent.
Striebinger said he does not think any immediate family members of the superintendent should be employed with the district.
Cooper said the rules for the superintendent and other employees should be the same -- no family members should supervise each other or work in the same building.
Here is where they stand on other key issues facing the school district:
CAPITAL FUNDING
Do you support the superintendent's proposal to ask voters in November to approve a 15-year, 1 percent sales tax hike that would raise about $480 million for the district?
Striebinger: Timing aside, Striebinger says the superintendent's plan does not make financial sense. The district should ask only for the money it knows it needs and should, if possible, update its population estimates. "It seems to be kind of a rogue enterprise that Dr. Moss is out there talking about. Some of the statements he's made are just absurd."
Cooper: While Cooper said she did not know specifics of the superintendent's proposal, she does not support asking the public for any more money as long as people are largely unhappy with the board and its recent actions. "Before I feel good asking the public for any additional money, we need to clean up what's before them every day and what's on their minds."
ACE
What role should the district play in the future of the aging Beaufort-Jasper Academy for Career Excellence?
Striebinger: None. Unless the school can be "retooled," the district should separate itself from ACE and focus on developing technical programs within its own high schools.
"I don't see a bright future for ACE at all," he said. "From what I know now, it doesn't seem it serves a really good function for Beaufort County."
Cooper: The district should withdraw from ACE if it's not meeting Beaufort County students' needs, but add more traditional offerings, such as beauty culture, to its slate of in-house technical education programs.
"If (ACE) is not being successful, I don't blame them for wanting to try something new and something can monitor closely."
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Do you support the superintendent's proposal to work with area housing officials to offer teachers low-cost housing in order to improve recruitment and retention and off-set stagnant teacher pay?
Striebinger: No. Improving pay and the culture and environment of the district's schools would be more effective in keeping experienced teachers in the classroom. "I'm not in favor at all of the district getting into the housing business."
Cooper: No. Raises, professional support and adequate materials will go farther in retaining good teachers and staff, and hiring continuously throughout the year will improve the quality of the district's hires. As an administrator, "when I saw a star, I'd get that person a contract and the placement would come later."
TRANSPARENCY
Will you state your opinion on district issues when asked by members of the public and media?
Striebinger: Yes. "That's the only way you're going to get trust back."
Cooper: Yes. "We need to be very transparent. That's the only way we can win the confidence of the community."
Follow reporter Rebecca Lurye on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Rebecca.
Related content:
- Beaufort County parent announces run for school board, November 8, 2016
- Former school administrator to run for Beaufort County school board, November 16, 2016
- 1 of 2 Beaufort County school board candidates stands with 3 members against Moss review, December 3, 2016
This story was originally published January 30, 2016 at 8:50 PM with the headline "Special election: Where do the school board candidates stand?."