The main office of the Lexington 2 school district. Oct. 11, 2024
Jordan Lawrence
jlawrence@thestate.com
A majority of the seats on the board overseeing schools in West Columbia and Cayce could welcome new faces after the Nov. 5 election.
Nine candidates — including incumbents Abbott ‘Tre’ Bray and Liz Chitty Castles, the current vice-chair — are running for four seats on the Lexington 2 school board, which presides over the district that serves nearly 9,000 students and includes Airport and Brookland-Cayce high schools.
Eight of those candidates weighed in on their priorities should they win next month and how they would handle discussions around banning controversial books, which has become a hot button in the district.
Challenger Ivan Earle couldn’t be reached for comment. The other responses are listed in alphabetical order.
The winners will serve four-year terms.
Craig B Aull Provided
Craig B Aull
Age: 66
Occupation/place of employment: Director - Operations Support, Dominion Energy
Education/school: B.S. Degree Administrative Management, Clemson University; MBA University of South Carolina
Political or civic experience: I currently volunteer as the secretary of the board of directors for a local charity, the Dickerson Children’s Advocacy Center in Lexington. In previous volunteer leadership roles, I served as treasurer of the board of Palmetto Place, an emergency children’s shelter in Columbia.
I have seen firsthand the positive impact that educators have on young peoples’ lives. It is also important to have a thriving public school system in our community. The public school environment has changed, and I believe that I have decades of business experience as well as the ability to build a consensus to help our district adapt to the current challenges.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the school board?
1. Academic rigor: To help guide the district to make sure we have the strategies and teacher support to promote academic rigor. This goes from improving the reading levels in elementary schools to AP classes and dual enrollment programs to earn college credits.
2. Career readiness: The Innovation Center is an important part of our district. I want to make sure that we have clear guidance on what is offered to our students to help them become career ready. I want to make sure we partner with businesses in the area to help shape our offerings and provide internship opportunities for our students.
3. English speakers of other languages (ESOL): Research and define strategies to better serve this population of students.
The district has drawn a lot of attention recently for its handling of restricting access to controversial books. Is there anything you would change as to the way the district handles itself in this regard? What do you think the role of the school board is in determining what materials are appropriate for the district’s students?
My understanding is that our district uses the model set by the policies of the S.C. State Board of Education as well as the law passed by the S.C. State Legislature in 2024. I look forward to moving on to work with everyone on the board to address the other opportunities and challenges we face in our district.
Barry Bolen Provided
Barry Bolen
Age: 74
Occupation/place of employment: Retired
Education/school: BA History Newberry College, MEd. and EDs. in school administration
Political or civic experience: West Metro Chamber. Member State Board of Education 2010-14
Why are you running for the school board?
To hopefully have a positive impact on our school system and community.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the school board?
Build consensus for a united board. Focus on the needs of our students. Listen and respond to stakeholders when making policy decisions.
The district has drawn a lot of attention recently for its handling of restricting access to controversial books. Is there anything you would change as to the way the district handles itself in this regard? What do you think the role of the school board is in determining what materials are appropriate for the district’s students?
Develop a local policy that meets the state guidelines.
Abbott ‘Tre’ Bray Provided
Abbott ‘Tre’ Bray
Age: 40
Occupation/place of employment: National program manager, DysTech
Education/school: MBA - University of South Carolina (Aiken), BS Business Management - Limestone, (OCS) Palmetto Military Academy
Political or civic experience: Current Lexington 2 trustee
I’m running for school board because our students deserve better, and I have the experience, vision, and determination to make that happen. Over the past four years, I’ve been a strong advocate for policies that prioritize our kids, from improving teacher pay to expanding vital programs like Launch and Spanish Immersion. Our district has been in decline for two decades, but we have the potential to be a top-tier school system. It’s time for bold, conservative leadership to pull us out of the mire. If re-elected, I’ll continue fighting for real reform, stronger discipline, and equity for all students. Let’s lead our district forward!
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the school board?
If re-elected, my top priorities will be transforming how we support students and improve outcomes. First (and for the third time in three years), I will push for a comprehensive cellphone policy to reduce distractions and refocus classrooms on learning. Second, I’ll advocate for the strategic expansion of New Bridge Academy to better handle classroom disruptions without just giving up on our children. Finally, I’ll lead the charge for exploring modified year-round school. In everything we do going forward we will use data to inform decision-making, ensure we recruit and retain top-tier teachers, and ALWAYS put our students first with bold, innovative solutions.
The district has drawn a lot of attention recently for its handling of restricting access to controversial books. Is there anything you would change as to the way the district handles itself in this regard? What do you think the role of the school board is in determining what materials are appropriate for the district’s students?
School materials should be chosen carefully to support students’ reading, writing, and basic skills. They should be age-appropriate, effective, and aligned with educational goals. A multi-tiered approval process involving educators, parents, and community members can ensure the quality of selected materials. Prioritize resources that promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. By following these guidelines, we can ensure that textbooks and library books are valuable assets for students’ academic growth and future success.
Mary Burkett Provided
Mary Burkett
Age: 71
Occupation/place of employment: Holocaust educator
Education/school: Graduate of Airport High School and the University of South Carolina
Political or civic experience: I have served in various capacities in civic and religious organizations. I was S.C. state co-chair for Ben Carson in 2016. In my role as a Holocaust educator, I interface with political leaders in the U.S. and occasionally with foreign governments.
I am running because I believe our young people deserve an education that prepares them well for adult life. The majority of our students are currently behind grade level in language arts and math and this issue must be addressed.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the school board?
My priorities would be to push for improved academic outcomes across all grade levels, to prioritize early literacy initiatives, and to provide transparency for parents and the community at large so that we can all work together to improve Lexington 2.
The district has drawn a lot of attention recently for its handling of restricting access to controversial books. Is there anything you would change as to the way the district handles itself in this regard? What do you think the role of the school board is in determining what materials are appropriate for the district’s students?
The role of the school board in choosing and approving library books and materials has now been addressed by state regulations. I believe Lexington 2 should implement policies that are clearly within the legal framework that has been established.
Liz Chitty Castles Provided
Liz Chitty Castles
Age: 52
Occupation/place of employment: NA
Education/school: Graduate of Lexington District 2 Schools, BS in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Newberry College
Political or civic experience: Lexington 2 school board 2020-2024; Hebron Day School Committee; Elementary, Middle and High School School Improvement Council; Airport High School Education Foundation Board Appointee Member; Brookland Cayce High School Education Foundation Member; and Member of High School Athletic Clubs
Why are you running for the school board?
I have had the privilege to serve on the Lexington 2 School Board for the past four years. I grew up in a family of educators who worked in Lexington 2. I went through Lexington 2 schools as well as my husband and four children. I have always been active in our district and want to see our students excel at the highest level of education. I want to see the state and other education facilities continue to take notice of our school district through our programs, support of teachers, and innovative teaching methods. I want to see continued social mobility of our students at risk of not graduating or not being employable. I feel this is the most effective way I can support Lexington 2.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the school board?
I am very proud of this school district’s accomplishments and its standing in our educational community. My priorities have always been to provide the best school district for our students, teachers, administrators, and community. We will work to continue to provide a budget that serves our district and is economically responsible to our taxpayers. Our community can take pride in the construction of our new facilities funded through the bond referendum. We will continue to celebrate these accomplishments and community gems. However, we know the glaring priority for our school district is to improve our SC School Report Card; that is our main focus.
The district has drawn a lot of attention recently for its handling of restricting access to controversial books. Is there anything you would change as to the way the district handles itself in this regard? What do you think the role of the school board is in determining what materials are appropriate for the district’s students?
When selecting textbooks and school library books, districts should initially and mostly rely on the experts (administrators and librarians) who are trained in this area to make informed decisions that best serve the needs of the students, while ensuring that the choices are in compliance with the regulations from the S.C. Department of Education.
Brian Habing Provided
Brian Habing
Age: 53
Occupation/place of employment: Associate Professor of Statistics at the University of South Carolina
Education/school: Ph.D. in Statistics, M.S. in Mathematics, and B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Political or civic experience: Former president of the Westover Acres HOA neighborhood association; cubmaster and committee chair for Cub Scout Pack 308; committee member for Scout Troop 1
Why are you running for the school board? I have been impressed by how seriously the current Lexington 2 school board takes their responsibility to continually improve the district and its schools. Even when they disagree, the members have seemed to offer constructive advice and to try and make what will pass better. This isn’t the case in some nearby districts, where the focus might be more on hot-button issues that won’t improve many students’ educations — or on personal battles with fellow board members. I am running for a school board seat to help the board continue focusing on what matters — providing the best possible education to our kids.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the school board?
The district needs to dedicate the resources needed to inform parents about the existence and purpose of IEP and 504 plans; smooth the interchange between parents and students with the school and teachers about these plans; and provide the support teachers need to make sure the many plans they have in each class of students are implemented.
The district needs to determine what is needed to attract and retain special education teachers and support staff, and examine what is needed to improve the environment for teachers, staff, and students in both self-contained classrooms and least restrictive environments.
The district needs to improve the availability of translators and quality of translation services needed by our non- and limited-English speaking parents to easily communicate with the teachers and administration, and continue to improve the programs for those students.
The district has drawn a lot of attention recently for its handling of restricting access to controversial books. Is there anything you would change as to the way the district handles itself in this regard? What do you think the role of the school board is in determining what materials are appropriate for the district’s students?
Lexington 2 is currently changing its policy to match the one put in place this summer by the S.C. Department of Education.
Teachers and librarians should select the books (with district oversight) to help educate our children and foster a love of reading. It is vital for the district to fulfill its oversight duties in an honest and open manner — both at board meetings, like it has, and for decisions made at the school level that have been more opaque. It should not require a FOIA to find out which books have been removed or why. The board should rightfully continue to turn aside challenges that seem unfounded and uphold those in the rare cases an inappropriate book slipped through.
This year, the board will need to be upfront with its Lexington 2 stakeholders about unexpected situations or unfortunate consequences that arise when applying the clear text of the new state regulations to challenged materials and activities. (Whether the Bible and many books on physiology and animals run afoul of it. What it means for book fairs and current event classes, etc.)
Allen Knotts Provided
Allen Knotts
Age: 43
Occupation/place of employment: Director of Facilities and Operations, Lexington-Richland School District 5
Education/school: MBA, Western Governors University
Political or civic experience: Most of my experience would center around my position with our bordering school district and mentoring/coaching youth in the Cayce-West Columbia area.
Why are you running for the school board?
I genuinely care about the Cayce-West Columbia community and the Airport and Brookland-Cayce cluster students. After several years of coaching youth sports in our area, I felt it was time to utilize my experiences in school district internal operations to provide additional support for our educators.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the school board?
Safety and support: With recent events, a safety-first approach is paramount. Why not make our schools safer from a facility, physical plant, student, and teacher perspective? Then what are we doing to provide maximum support to our teachers? In addition to fair and competitive salaries, are we looking at bringing additional value-added options to the district?
Growth and providing options: As the area our district serves continues to evolve, it’s essential that we stay ahead of the curve. We’re witnessing district students leaving our schools, and it’s imperative that we understand why this is happening and what we, as a district, can do to attract new families to our community. We must market our programs at the innovation center to the students as early as possible. Provide options that increase our use of technology for our high-flyers who may want to take on additional coursework or learn in a flexible classroom setting.
The district has drawn a lot of attention recently for its handling of restricting access to controversial books. Is there anything you would change as to the way the district handles itself in this regard? What do you think the role of the school board is in determining what materials are appropriate for the district’s students?
Selection could be accomplished by taking a multifaceted approach. While the state proviso regarding this might seem a bit vague, the final decision should be made locally. The district, in conjunction with parents from different schools/clusters within the district, should provide input as to what may be pulled from the shelves. The local school board could design parameters around how this process would work and how to appeal decisions.
Cliff Springs Provided
Cliff Springs
Age: 54
Occupation/place of employment: Owner of Genesis Studios
Education/school: Bachelor of Applied Professional Sciences, University of South Carolina
Political or civic experience: I serve as a board member for two organizations that serve families and children, and am an advisor to two other youth-related organizations. I also serve as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at my church.
Why are you running for the school board? Our schools are failing after a decade under the control of a four-person majority. Nearly 70% of our students are reading and doing math below grade level. We are graduating students who can’t read. Our administration has put teachers in an unwinnable situation with disruptive environments, students on their phones all day, and a lack of disciplinary enforcement and support. This is a community problem that requires citizens to step forward to solve these problems.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the school board?
Our district needs to establish values that guide our decisions and function. We need consistently enforced discipline (not Draconian, but consistent and appropriate). And we need transparency — parents deserve to know what their kids are being taught.
The district has drawn a lot of attention recently for its handling of restricting access to controversial books. Is there anything you would change as to the way the district handles itself in this regard? What do you think the role of the school board is in determining what materials are appropriate for the district’s students?
This question is misleading. The concern hasn’t been primarily about “controversial” material, but rather material that is vulgar, pornographic, and/or age inappropriate. We don’t need any content that fits those categories. Yes, there are materials that may be acceptable for juniors and seniors that are not appropriate for those in elementary or middle school, but there is other highly questionable content that simply does not add to academic improvement. Materials that promote a particular political or social agenda are often divisive. While I would prefer that we aren’t stoking political discord in our schools, at the very minimum any content that presents one side of the political spectrum should be offset by content that presents the opposing view comparably. Ultimately, our focus should be on materials that help students achieve excellence.
Jordan Lawrence serves as metro editor for The State. He has worked for newspapers in the Columbia area for more than a decade, having previously served as the lead editor for Free Times and the Lexington County Chronicle. He has won several South Carolina Press Association Awards, including recognition for breaking news reporting, business reporting and arts and entertainment writing.Support my work with a digital subscription
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