Elections
First-time school board candidate unopposed in District 6
As a mother of four, Kristie Baxley is very familiar with public and private schools on the Waccamaw Neck.
The Litchfield Country Club resident has set her sights on representing District 6 (Pawleys Island/Litchfield) on the Georgetown County Board of Education. She is the only candidate to file in the district.
“It’s extremely important that the board is made up of diverse community members, ranging from entrepreneurs, taxpayers, parents,” Baxley said. “I think when you get everyone together with those different perspectives, different backgrounds, and different talents and abilities, and and have an open mind, you can do great things. I want to be a part of that.”
Barring a successful write-in campaign by a challenger, Baxley will be sworn in on Nov. 19 for the seat now held by Lynne Ford. Redistricting moved Ford into District 2
Baxley was surprised to be the only candidate in the race.
“I had a few people tell me they were thinking of running,” she said.
Baxley grew up in California and decided to settle in Pawleys Island 21 years ago after picking it out on a map.
“I was really drawn to geographically how unique it is,” Baxley said. “I’ve always been very sensitive and very in tune to environmental health.”
Baxley and her husband own Sand + Sea Beach Co. and Sand + Sea Cabana Service.
“I have a wide experience and a wide perspective of all the different angles,” she said. “I’ve always said I wanted to make as big a difference as I could. There was always an excuse or something holding me back.”
With her 50th birthday just two years away she decided now was the time.
“Do I want to push myself and go after my goals and do whatever I think my purpose here is?” Baxley said. “Or do I want to be 50 and don’t do a thing all day.”
Speaking to current board members also “motivated” her to run, Baxley added.
“I hope by me running I want to encourage other parents to run as well,” she said.
Baxley’s two oldest children are college-age. Her two youngest are toddlers.
“I really love that I’m doing this now so I can be there and really involved for the younger ones,” she said.
Due to a proviso in the state budget, the school district had to implement a plan to keep cellphones out of the hands of middle and high school students.
“I do know that they present many challenges, not only to teachers” Baxley said. “They’re a distraction.”
However, Baxley bought her second-grader a smart watch last Christmas.
“I like that extra security cushion for myself, I like to know my child is where he’s supposed to be or if he had an emergency I’d be able to contact him” Baxley said. “I see both sides of it.”
Baxley thinks cellphones are an “out of control” issue with older kids.
“Some of them don’t know how to use the technology in an appropriate way,” she said.
In her spare time Baxley has coached soccer and T-ball and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the Grand Strand Miracle League. She was a member of the WAVE (Warriors Advocating and Volunteering for Education) board at Waccamaw High School and earned an International Montessori Teaching Diploma.
