Darlington County School District honors board of education
The Darlington County School District will honor the Darlington County Board of Education on Monday as part of South Carolina’s School Board Recognition Month. Pictured are (from left) Superintendent Dr. Eddie Ingram and board members Warren Jeffords, Charles Govan, Billy Baldwin, Maureen Thomas, Connell Delaine, Dr. Thelma Dawson, Jamie Morphis and Wanda Hassler.
The Darlington County School District celebrates the dedication and service of its board members this January in recognition of School Board Recognition Month in South Carolina.
The Darlington County Board of Education is responsible for maintaining and operating the system of free public schools for all children living in the district. The board manages the district’s long-term vision including budgeting, strategic planning, curriculum auditing and inclusion of the community. The board ensures accountability of itself and all district operations while overseeing a $72 million annual budget that serves more than 10,400 students in Darlington County.
Superintendent Dr. Eddie Ingram thanked the members of the Darlington County Board of Education for their leadership and dedication.
“It takes courage for the members of the board to provide the direction, permission and cover to the district,” Ingram said. “I join the rest of the Darlington County School District in celebrating the board for its enduring commitment to provide a 21st Century education to our children.”
Three members recognized for benchmark years of service include:
Dr. Thelma Dawson will be honored for 25 years on the board. Both Jamie Morphis and board Secretary Charles Govan will be recognized for 15 years of service on the board.
Voters living in the Darlington County School District elect the eight members of the board, and their tenures represent the voters’ confidence. Alongside the three members being recognized Monday, board Chairman Connell Delaine has served 13 years on the board, and Vice Chairman Warren Jeffords has served for 23 years. Board members Billy Baldwin, Maureen Thomas and Wanda Hassler are all serving their first terms on the board.
Jamie Horton, the district’s 2015 Teacher of the Year, said she appreciated deeply the board’s desire to push the district to the forefront of public education.
“The Darlington County Board of Education has proven to be essential in the success of our school district,” Horton said. “We are very fortunate to have a forward-thinking and progressive school board that does an excellent job of listening to the needs of our teachers, and right now those needs are related to technology. Their vision and perseverance has really helped teachers and students move forward in the ever-changing technological world.”
The monthly meetings begin at 6 p.m. in the Board/Community Conference Room of Administrative Annex No. 1 at 102 Park St. in Darlington on the second Monday of each month.
For more information, visit www.darlington.k12.sc.us.
