Florence County School District Three joins school districts throughout the state and nation to celebrate School Board Recognition Month in January. More than 600 locally-elected and appointed school board members throughout the state will be recognized by schools and communities for their service and dedication to public education.
Each FCSD3 school invited an assigned school board member to visit the school. Each board member toured a school campus, visited classrooms and was treated to a school lunch.
The theme “School Boards Stand Up 4 SC Public Schools” recognizes the important roles school boards play in promoting and advocating for quality education. School board members are elected/appointed by the people in their local communities to represent their voice and to ensure the success of schools and students.
“The efforts of school board members often go unrecognized,” said FCSD3 Superintendent Laura Hickson.“This month we honor the year-round commitment that school board members make to our district and the community.”
In FCSD3,school board members develop policies and make tough decisions on complex educational and social issues impacting the entire community. They bear responsibility for an annual budget of $26 million, nearly 4,000 students, 600 employees and nine school campuses.
As a part of School Board Recognition Month, FCSD3 board members participated in an official signing of the South Carolina School Board Member Ethical Principles during the Jan. 19 school board meeting. By signing the principles, school board members publicly vow to uphold effective governance principles and pledge to improve public education in their communities.
The men and women serving FCSD3and their years of service are:
- Dr. Lane N. Floyd, Chair (4 years)
- Barbara Singletary-Bryant, Vice-Chair (6 years)
- Paula Morris, Secretary (14 years)
- Almeta Fleming (newly elected)
- Terrie Gaskins-Bryant (4 years)
- John Graham (6 years)
- Debra McKnight (3 years)
- Dr. Julia Mims (15 years)
- Rodney Poston (newly elected)