Vote 2022: 4 Candidates Pursue 3 Seats on Lexington 2 School Board

The Chronicle has assembled a guide to what will be on ballots in Lexington County in the November election. Find the full guide at lexingtonchronicle.com.

In Lexington County School District 2, which covers Cayce, West Columbia and Springdale, four candidates are vying for three available seats. 

The district recently dealt with the sudden resignation of previous superintendent Nicolas Wade and the hiring of new superintendent Brenda Hafner, but none of the four people running had much to say about how all that was handled.

Incumbent Linda Alford-Wooten pushed the importance of having a variety of perspectives on the board when asked about why she is running again.

“My background in healthcare, my experience as a parent in the district,and my love for my community of which I am a product combine to give a unique view,” she said.

Alford-Wooten said key challenges facing the district are “school safety,” “working to offset learning loss for students after COVID” and “providing a supportive working environment for our teachers and other professionals.”

“We must continue to work together for what is best for our students and district,” she said.

School safety seems to be a particular emphasis for her.

“Our school district is working diligently on enhancing our school safety,” she said. “We have hired a district position dedicated to safety. We have been fortunate to have a safe community. However this does not absolve us of our responsibility to provide safe and supportive learning environments.”

Candidate Joseph Clark Hightower said he is seeking a seat on the board because “we need committed people to keep our schools outstanding.”

“I am running for school board to see that our schools, faculty, and students are supported in the best way possible,” he said. “Education is extremely complex and it takes a committed team to meet the rigors of resolving issues and making Lex2 the school district of choice.”

Teacher hiring and retention, safety COVID-19 recovery and mental health (“schools have become the frontline of mental health awareness; I believe that it is essential for schools to implement strategies to consistently and effectively support the wellbeing of their students, teachers and support personnel”) are key challenges he said he sees for the district.

He said he believes his more than 40 years of “ leadership, communication and problem solving experience” and years spent as a GED facilitator college professor teaching leadership and organizational behavior would be an asset to the board.

Former board member Kevin Key said his passion to “help kids grow and achieve their goals [and] succeed when all odds are stacked against them” and his “desire to see that our community is proud of Lexington District 2” are why he’s running for re-election.

[Online copy corrected.]

A commercial contractor and business owner of 37 years, he was the chair 10 years ago on the bond referendum task force that secured a bond of $225 million for the district, and he said he brings this experience along with “openness, honesty and a willingness to help” to the school board.

He spotlighted security, discipline and teacher pay as three issues that need to be addressed.

“We employ over 1,200 people, our buses travel a million miles a year, we oversee the most square footage in facilities within our district and we have a budget of over $74 million,” he said. “Then on top of that the district has to make sure approximately 10,000 kids' needs are met both emotionally and academically. So you see Lexington 2 is a big business and it needs to be run that way.”

Christina Rucker, the current chair of the board, said she is running again because “our kids are a gift and that we need to take the time to invest in them.”

“I want to do everything I can to help keep them safe and support the things that help them grow personally and academically. In the next four years, I hope to see our kids continue to grow and be prepared for the opportunities that come their way.

Asked about the issues the board faces, she said, “The best thing a board can do, no matter the issues that come our way, is to always put the students first. When you put kids first, it is reflected in the use of your time and actions. Each child in our school district is precious and deserves nothing less than our full attention and best efforts.”

She said safety is her top priority.

“The district has recently hired a safety and risk coordinator and I believe this was a great move,” she said. “Our district has always worked to continuously make changes and adjustments that keep our schools safe. As board members, we must continue to encourage and support those efforts and keep this topic at the top of our list. Safety is not a one-time fix, but a daily effort that requires adjustments and improvements where needed.”