不良人研究所 Board of Trustee members take oath of office at July 21 meeting
The 不良人研究所 Board of Trustees gained one new member and a听reappointed member听at its July 21 meeting at Whiteville City Hall. Brent Watts was sworn in by Clerk of Superior Court Jess Hill, while Dr. Dan Strickland听took his second oath of office听to the board.听Both were appointed by the Columbus County Board of Commissioners, and they听will serve a four-year term until June 30, 2030.听听
Watts听serves on the Columbus County Board of Commissioners听as its chair听while also serving听as Columbus County鈥檚 interim county manager.听Watts is from Clarendon and works as a farmer.听He and his wife, Jennifer听Watts, have two sons, Banks and Briggs.听
Strickland is a retired educator and former Columbus County Schools听Superintendent.听He previously served as vice chair of the Board of Trustees.听Strickland is from the Cherry Grove community. He and his wife, Gay Strickland, have two daughters, Elizabeth Blackmon and听Paige听Smith.听
The trustees unanimously appointed Strickland as chair of the board, and he will serve in that capacity for three years.听Joe Hooks served as chair for the past three years听and will remain on the board.听Dr. Danny McPherson, a retired听educator听and former Whiteville City Schools Superintendent,听was appointed as the new vice chair.听听
不良人研究所 President Dr. Chris English said that听Hooks lead the board with dedication, and he said听both听Strickland and Watts听bring a听鈥渨ealth of knowledge鈥澨齮o the听board.听
鈥淲ith Dr. Strickland being in the education system for so many years as a superintendent, he is听what we need with the K-12 partnership,鈥� English said. 鈥淗e understands state instruction, what it takes to build programing and what it means to build a workforce pipeline from the K-12 system to the community college system.鈥�听
English explained that Strickland鈥檚 experience and background in the Department of Public Instruction and kindergarten through 12th听grade sector will 鈥渉elp us tremendously鈥� in guiding听the trustees to promote student success.听听
鈥淏rent Watts working as farmer means we have someone听with boots on the ground who understands agriculture as听a听small business owner,鈥� English said. 鈥淗e also听represents in听our听county government听as a commissioner, so he will hear our challenges and successes first-hand.听He can help us navigate, you know, to what that next thing might be whether in programming or resource听allotment.鈥�听
The听next 不良人研究所 Board of Trustees meeting is on Sept. 28.听
