CAMERON - With much of Calhoun County at odds over the controversial $32 million-plus school district construction plan already underway, the nonpartisan Nov. 4 school board election could serve as a referendum of sorts.

Four candidates are seeking the Calhoun County School Board District 1 seat. Incumbent Gary Porth, who has served on the board for more than a dozen years, is being challenged by three political newcomers opposed to the construction plan. Tommie J. Glover, Melody Inabinet Pedings and Scott Segars are the challengers.

Porth, who is seeking a fourth four-year term from District 1, also represented District 4 for one term, before losing a re-election bid in 1992.

The three-member board majority, which includes Porth, has supported a $32 million bond issue that will allow the construction of a new K-8 school in St. Matthews, additions for a K-8 school in Sandy Run and improvements to the high school. Opponents cite a lack of input from the community, with some upset over the closing of John Ford and Guinyard schools.

District 1 includes the precincts of Cameron, Midway and Creston, as well as portions of Fort Motte, Lone Star, St. Matthews and Dixie. The district has 1,869 registered voters, of whom 1,032 are white, 831 are black and six are designated “other.”

Gary PorthRunning on his record, Porth says he’s “ecstatic” about the school district’s recent accomplishments, including leading the state in three-year gains in test scores.

“It’s hard to describe how I feel about that,” he said “Truly the teachers are doing a really good job and the students have bought into the system. It’s a districtwide, community effort. ... We’ve just done phenomenally well.”

And not only has the district made tremendous strides in education, Porth stresses all of the progress has been done, “with one of the most attractive tax rates in the state.”

“Things are in better shape under (Superintendent Kenneth Westbury’s) leadership than in my entire time on the board. He’s a local product, he’s easy to get along with and he’s put competent people in place,” Porth said. “It’s the best shape we’ve ever had.”

With that kind of success, Porth says, he doesn’t understand the opposition.

“I saw a brochure of Mr. Glover’s and I was taken aback,” Porth said, citing a grammatical error. “I can speak slang with the absolute best of them ... but, if I put out a brochure for office, I’d make sure it was grammatically correct.”

Otherwise, Porth says his record speaks to the fiscal issues raised by Glover.

Noting that Pedings is a distant relative, Porth says she’s, “obviously a very, very strong advocate and a big volunteer in the schools. ... She’s very passionate about the schools.”

But, he says, that passion can focus on one issue rather than, “seeing the whole picture. ... I question whether she can see the district as a whole.” The voucher issue is one in which she’s, “adamant about us signing some form,” that doesn’t concern the county or the board and “has been killed in the legislature.”

As for Segars, Porth says he’s a good friend of Board Chairman Tom Arant.

“Both profess to be Libertarians. Tom got him to run for the board to further their cause,” Porth said.

Acknowledging that there has been a, “big outpouring about the building project,” Porth says, “the students’ needs are being met, without burdening taxpayers with overwhelming debt.”

“There’s been no referendum in my tenure. No debt,” he said. “I’d have been adamantly opposed to $32 million if it had been done via referendum. ... There’s no additional burden with the taxpayers.”

Instead, Porth explains, the district opted for a lease/purchase plan that had to be done quickly to meet state law.

“Basically, the stars lined up” and it was a win-win situation that provided K-8 schools in both St. Matthews and Sandy Run, plus improvements at the high school, he said.

In return, Porth says, “the closing of John Ford and Guinyard is not a popular issue.” It tends, “to hit an emotional nerve, but those schools will live on,” through class reunions and memory.

As for opponents who ask why his son doesn’t attend the local public school, Porth says the teenager attends a public high school in Japan where he lives with his mother and stepfather.

A native of Calhoun County, Porth is a graduate of Clemson University. He is a recent graduate of Charleston School of Law.

Tommie J. GloverA guidance counselor in neighboring Richland County, Glover says he wants to expand the leadership he’s demonstrated on the school level to “be a leader in the community.”

As a lifelong resident of Cameron and as a teacher, Glover says he offers change and new ideas for the district.

“We’re stuck in the mud,” he said. “You can’t continue to do the same thing and get different results.”

As for the bond issue, Glover says the community should have been more involved. The elected school board should have served the district better.

“The community didn’t have a say-so. The people didn’t know anything about it,” he said. “There was no public input.”

In addition, Glover says the district should have taken, “care of old business before new business.”

“There are already two vacant schools -- St. John and Bethlehem. They’re building a new school to house Guinyard and John Ford. After completion, there will be two more vacant schools,” he said.

“We should have figured out what to do with the old schools before building new ones.”

While acknowledging the good job being done in the school district, Glover proposes a, “new level when it comes to teacher appreciation and teacher attrition. We need to keep those good teachers. Money should be spent on further training and (better) salaries. We have competing districts in the Midlands. The money we spend should be spent in the classroom.”

Campaigning to be a “representative voice,” for constituents, Glover stresses that he is not in favor of any tax increases for the community.

“I am willing to fight for our children, just as much as I am willing to fight for our country,” he said.

Glover, who was named “Teacher of the Year” at his school last year, did his student teaching at the old St. John Elementary School in Calhoun County. Also, his wife is this year’s “Teacher of the Year” in Kershaw County.

A native of Calhoun County, Glover has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Claflin University and a master’s degree in counselor education from South Carolina State University. He has served 12 years in the military reserves.

Melody Inabinet Pedings

Although making her first bid for political office, Pedings says she’s been actively involved in public education for more than 20 years, since her eldest child entered the system.

“I feel I need to run. Parents are not adequately represented on the board. Board members don’t have children (in the local public school system).” she said. “Since I had been involved at the public school level, I felt it was time to run.”

Pedings said she was “adamantly opposed” to the new school construction.

“We had one middle school large enough. I don’t feel a K-8 school is a good option, just simply because of the age span,” she said.

Another key difference she takes with Porth and the board majority, Pedings says, is her opposition to school vouchers.

“I do not support the school voucher issue that comes up again and again at the state and national level,” she said. “It’s disappointing our board would not vote for a proclamation against school vouchers.”

The 3-2 vote against the proclamation, she says, was “very disconcerting to me.”

“Although I was not for the building of the K-8 school, at this time I believe we ought to just move ahead,” she said. “Because the children are the ones who will suffer if we drag this on.”

“Very concerned,” about the future of public education, Pedings says she just hopes “someone who is truly interested in public education gets elected, someone who is truly interested.”

A native of Calhoun County, Pedings is a high school graduate who has taken technical college courses. She does volunteer work at the public library.

Scott Segars

Endorsed by Arant, Segars did not return repeated telephone messages.

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by calling 803-533-5545.

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