COASTAL OBSERVER

A retired educator and a former television newsman have joined an attorney in the race for the vacant District 6 seat on the Georgetown County School Board.

Jon Tester retired four years ago as Georgetown County’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction after 32 years in education as a teacher, principal and district administrator

“I feel like basically I’ve done almost everything except transportation and food service,” Tester said. “I’ve been involved and had my hand in almost every other aspect of the school district. I was fortunate because I was given opportunities to get involved and broaden my scope of experience.”

Alex Belser worked in television in Columbia, New Orleans, Texas and northeastern Pennsylvania.

“It’s nine people so everybody will have their opinion on the board,” Belser said. “I think I bring more of that reporting and investigative background as far as questioning what’s going on. I’m not going to be intimidated because they say you have to cooperate with everybody because you’re on the school board.”

Jarrod Ownbey, a lawyer with the Mullins Law Firm in North Myrtle Beach, filed when the books opened April 25.

The husband of a teacher and the father of two students in the district, he said last week that teacher retention is a focus for him.

District 6 runs from Waverly Road at Pawleys Island to the southern end of Murrells Inlet. 

Kristie Baxley, who ran unopposed for the seat in November, resigned last month.

Belser and Tester, who filed before the books closed this week, are also concerned about teachers leaving the district.

“We may have to look at the pay,” Belser said. “It should be studied.”

Belser has also heard about building housing “villages” strictly for teachers.

“That might be interesting,” he said.

Tester said he always hears about salaries, but also that teachers want to be supported at the district level, the school level and especially from the stakeholders.

“Teachers really want to know that people believe in them,” he said. “You’re dropping off your children at those schools. Those teachers become the parents for hours and hours and hours. If they’re not feeling they’re trusted and supported, they’re going to find an environment where they will be.”

In 2022, Tester ran in a special election to fill a vacant at-large seat on the school board. He believes at the time some voters thought he was still too close to the district since he had retired less than a year before.

“I want people to know that change is necessary. It’s important as long as it’s well thought out, well designed,” he said. “Change can be difficult, but I feel like as the world changes, what the board is doing, what the district is doing should change as well.”

During the search for the new superintendent last year, the school district posted a survey asking stakeholders what was important to them. Belser is interested in the board following up on what the respondents said. 

“There were comments and different complaints and stuff that were in there in addition to the characteristics for a new superintendent,” he said. “I don’t know if they really acted on that. I want to look into some of those. I don’t know if those are being addressed.”

Belser is also looking into the climate surveys parents fill out as part of the state report cards to see if there are things the district can improve on.

Since he retired four years ago, Tester often watches the school board meetings. What he’s noticed is there are members who “speak on topics you can tell they’re not well versed in,” he said. There’s also not a lot of unity, he added. 

“I feel that there’s a lot of opinions that members of the board have that others don’t share in that opinion. I think that’s an obstacle. That’s a big deal for that board,” Tester said. “I’d like to see the board unified and making solid decisions for that board. Supporting one another in those decisions and supporting the school district in their decision making.”

Belser frequently attends school board meetings and feels like he can contribute to the board.

“I want to make sure the system is working and what questions need to to be asked,” he said.

The election for the nonpartisan seat will be July 8. Early voting for will be from June 23 to July 3 at the county election office in Georgetown.

The last days to register to vote are: June 6, in person; June 8, online, email or fax; and by mail, postmarked by June 9.

To check your voter registration, or find out what district you live in, go to scvotes.gov.