4 seats up for grabs on Beaufort County’s school board. Who’s running and how to file
Four of 11 seats are up for grabs on the Beaufort County Board of Education this year — and at least two will change hands since the incumbents are not seeking re-election.
The filing period for the school board’s Nov. 3 election ends Monday at noon. Candidates must live in the district they are running in. If elected, they will represent their district for a four-year term.
Candidates must fill out a nonpartisan statement of intention of candidacy, available on the South Carolina Election Commission website, and file it with the Beaufort County Board of Elections.
While the Board of Elections’ Bluffton office is closed due to COVID-19, the Beaufort office, located at 15 John Galt Rd. is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with limited staff “who will conduct internal and external business by telephone or email as much as possible,” according to the county’s website.
Which seats are open?
Four districts will see a school board election in November:
District 1, which covers the northern tip of Beaufort County including Sheldon, Lobeco and Grays Hill, currently represented by Earl Campbell.
District 6, which covers most of Okatie and Sun City, currently represented by John Dowling. Dowling announced in December that he would not seek re-election, citing the “very taxing” nature of the position.
District 9, which covers southern Bluffton and Dafuskie Island, currently represented by board chairwoman Christina Gwozdz.
District 11, which covers the south end of Hilton Head Island, currently represented by JoAnn Orischak. Orischak announced in May that she would not seek re-election due to a self-imposed term limit.
Who has filed?
As of Friday, seven candidates have filed for election.
Jevona Armstrong and incumbent Campbell are running to represent District 1.
Angela Middleton and Mick Andrews are running to represent District 6.
Jennifer Morrow and incumbent Gwozdz are running to represent District 9.
Ingrid Boatright is running unopposed to represent District 11.
Here’s what candidates have said about their history in Beaufort County and why they’re running. This list will be updated as more candidates respond.
School Board District 1
Earl Campbell
Campbell has lived in District 1 since 1973, and prior to his retirement, worked as a paramedic in the U.S. Army and for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
He has served on the school board for 30 years, and had five children and two grandchildren attend district schools. He also serves as a mentor for many students, he said.
His top issues: Dealing with the achievement gap and ensuring schools have highly qualified teachers and staff.
Jevona Armstrong
Armstrong has not returned multiple requests for comment. This article will be updated with her information when it is provided.
School Board District 6
Angela Middleton
Middleton has lived in Beaufort County since 2012 and her children have attended Beaufort County schools.
She is a loan specialist with the United States Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance and worked as an educator for nearly 15 years. She recently graduated from Savannah Law School.
Her top issue: A strong commitment to ensure all children reach their potential.
Mick Andrews
Andrews filed for the District 6 seat Friday, but when contacted for comment Saturday said that he “will not be running for this or any other office this year.”
“I filed because if I had not and no one else did, there would be the need for a costly special election,” he said. “Shortly after filing I learned that a candidate had also filed at the last minute. I felt and still do feel that she will do an excellent job for the people of District 6.”
School Board District 9
Christina Gwozdz
Gwozdz, who serves as the board’s current chairman, has lived in southern Beaufort County since 1989, and in her district since 1994. She owns Palmetto Ear, Nose and Throat, where she practices as a physician.
She has served on the school board for three and a half years, and had children attending Beaufort County public schools for 20 years.
Her top issue: Teaching children in the coronavirus pandemic, and continuing discussion of what’s “best and safe” for students.
Jennifer Morrow
Morrow is a Bluffton native and has lived in the county for 35 years altogether. She serves as a deployment readiness coordinator, and has worked for the Department of Defense in Marine Corps Services for 21 years. Morrow graduated from Beaufort County School District and has a child attending May River High School.
She previously served on the school board for Marine Corps Base Quantico and volunteered for parent advisory boards on base. She served as the Exceptional Family Program Coordinator for the Marine Corps to ensure accommodations for children of families deployed overseas. She volunteers throughout the Lowcountry and meets many students through youth travel sports teams.
Her top issue: Recognizing the needs of working parents as schools continue online learning due to the coronavirus pandemic. Morrow said she is concerned about parents who cannot afford to take time off work to supervise students or to hire a supervisor, as well as families with limited internet access.
School Board District 11
Ingrid Boatright
Boatright has lived in Beaufort County since 2009, and moved to Wexford Plantation in 2011. She is currently working toward a master’s degree in health informatics and was previously a stay-at-home mom.
Boatright has volunteered in several capacities with the school district and in the community. She is on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island.
She had two children graduate from Hilton Head Island High School and served there as a volunteer basketball coach, the president of the Seahawk Theatre Guild and as a booster for the Navy Junior ROTC program and the crew club for Hilton Head Island Middle and High School.
Her top issue: Community partnership and working to dispel “mutual distrust” between the school district and the community by getting residents to feel invested in the district — especially in her district, which has many retirees who no longer have children in county schools.
This story was originally published August 15, 2020 at 5:43 PM.