By: Jeremy Handel, Staff Writer
It was an emotional night at the November meeting of the Spartanburg School District Four Board of Trustees meeting as the board and staff said goodbye to four members, including two who had served together for 24 years.
Following the November 2 election, four new trustees were elected to the board, replacing Chair Melvin Brewton, Vice-Chair Joni Phillips, and trustees Chris Bennett and Charles Hembree. Brewton, Phillips, and Bennett did not seek re-election, while Hembree initially filed for re-election but later withdrew from the election. They will be replaced by newly elected trustees Ted Harrison, Gary Lee, Jay Phillips, and Morgan Smith.
Superintendent Dr. Rallie Liston closed the meeting with a presentation of their nameplates to Bennett, Phillips, and Brewton. He also thanked Hembree, who did not attend the meeting, for his service.
In speaking of Brewton and Phillips, Dr. Liston used an old Southern compliment about saying that “someone is good people,” saying that the two long-serving board members were not only good people but that “these folks wrote the book on good people.”
“They love Woodruff, and I appreciate them more than they will ever know,” he said of the trustees.
While Phillips was at a loss for words, Brewton thanked everyone in the room, particularly focusing on the principals of each school.
“Thank you to the principals. Thank you for the job you do every day,” he said. “Thank you for making this district what it is. We’re well known across the state for the job we do and for the product we put out – meaning our graduates.”
In the business portion of the meeting, trustees approved changes to various policies, which are recommended by the state on a regular basis. They also heard the first reading of some other policy changes that will be brought back to the December meeting for approval.
During staff and school updates, trustees heard the following reports:
- Woodruff Primary School reported that the school’s accreditation agency would be coming to the school in the next couple of months to review performance and classroom activities as part of the regular review for accreditation. The students also attended presentations by local firefighters to learn about fire safety.
- Woodruff Elementary School students participated in a “Read-a-Thon” during the final two weeks of October. Students asked family members to sponsor them in their challenge to read a certain number of books. The event raised more than $6,000 to purchase new books for the library.
- Woodruff Middle School reported that the volleyball team finished an undefeated season by winning their division and the conference championship. The school also recognized students whose artwork placed at the Piedmont Fair, including Caroline Lopez – 1st Place Painting; Maddie Nix – 1st Place Drawing; Andromeda Penland – 2nd Place Drawing; and Nathan McConnell – 3rd Place Drawing.
- Woodruff High School reported that seniors participated in College Application Day, receiving assistance filling out their applications. The WHS Cadets were recognized for finishing seventh in the 2021 AA Upper State Band Competition.
Author: Tracy Sanders
