Two challengers and an incumbent Weldon City Schools Board of Education member had a repeat of their performance in the March primary to gain seats on the panel, according to unofficial election returns Tuesday night.
Challenger Noah Ellis Davis Sr. was the top vote-getter in the race with 20.71 percent, followed by incumbent Donna B. Harrison with 19.43 percent and challenger Al Bennett with 19.13 percent.
The trio succeeded in unseating incumbents Kimberly A. Robinson and O.D. Sykes as well as challenger Regina B. Brooks.
Tuesday night’s results closely mirrored their primary performance where Davis collected 21.20 percent, Bennett 20.36 percent and Harrison 20.02 percent.
The gallery includes a photo of Bennett, Harrison and Davis
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While their filing for office occurred before a notice by the state school board for possible suspension of duties of the local board, for at least Bennett, it became an issue in the race. Davis could not immediately be reached for comment.
Bennett said he and Davis sat down with Harrison and decided to run together.
He said the late James “Tank” Williams, who before his death in September was chair of the board, encouraged him to run. “I’m a retired educator. Education has been my whole life. In our conversations he said, ‘Listen, man, I know you’re retired and you’ve got your own stuff but consider running for the board.’”
There were issues he had concerns with and he began going to board meetings. “I didn’t like the things that were going on. They were micromanaging. The board’s job is to govern policy. You ran all the superintendents away and you had to pay money because you were trying to micromanage everything and things weren’t going your way.”
As an educator who has lived and worked in Weldon, Bennett said, “I just thought I could make a difference for the kids, for the teachers, and the stakeholders.”
Bennett described the state board report as the “straw that broke the camel’s back because I had already filed and was going to the board meetings by then. Looking at the way things were done and the things that were being said, and the results of teachers leaving because of people trying to bring their friends in and family in, just like the report said, I saw it first firsthand and said I need to do something.”
His goal is to see the students in Weldon be successful. “That’s the be all and end all. I plan to be firm, fair, and consistent.”
Beyond introducing himself, he said he and Interim Superintendent Rodney Shotwell have not discussed anything in depth.
Bennett said he is looking forward to the journey. “We have a vested interest. We want to see children be successful. You’ve got to make sure your teachers are protected and working to the best of their ability without pressure, without worrying about the job.”
He believes the school system can overcome the state board’s report. “They’ve already come off the low-performing list so that’s a step in the right direction. Having been in education I do know that if the state department comes in, you need to cooperate. You have to be in cahoots with whatever they say and do because they’re just not doing things to be doing them. They’re thinking about the district, the children and them being successful.”
On Shotwell, he said, “Whatever is needed and whatever I can do to support him and help him, as long as it’s for the good of the kids, then that’s how I plan to work with him.”
Harrison said, “First and foremost I feel grateful and I thank the voters for coming out and voting for us and helping me with this. Moving forward we work together as a board to bring unity to the board and to bring unity within the school system and also to help our students and staff to support them.”
Harrison said there is much that needs to be done within the school system. “We’re getting ready to build a new school and we’re just hoping for the best for the future.”
She declined comment on the state school board notice that has threatened a takeover of their duties.
Harrison did confirm that she, Bennett and Davis ran the race as a team. She said, however, “Everybody did their own thing.”
Coming up on her second term, she said, “There’s much to be accomplished.”
