Board members reflect on legacy of leadership as their final meeting approaches

As four members of the Burke County Board of Education prepare for their final meeting on Monday, they hope their legacy will be a testament to their dedication to public education.

Seth Hunt, Don Hemstreet, Jane Sohovich, and Wendi Craven say the board has worked very closely together during their tenure, putting differences aside for the betterment of the district. Craven, Hunt, and Hemstreet lost their bid to retain their seats. Sohovich chose to not run.

“It’s a large organization. It’s a very dynamic and complicated organization,” said Chairman Hunt.

Don Hemstreet describes the board as a “seamless group working together.”

“In the beginning, as a new board there was friction, but as we gained trust and realized we were working for a common good, we were able to work very well together,” Hemstreet said.

Hunt spoke about the importance of diverse opinions.

“I have had the utmost respect for each and every board member. You’re not going to always agree, but you must always continue to be respectful of everyone’s individual choice and viewpoint. … I think that’s the beauty of having different people from different backgrounds to assess things,” Hunt said.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Over the course of their tenure, the board has been at the forefront of significant developments that have left an impact on the district.

From securing millions in funding for infrastructure improvements to spearheading state-leading policies on student health, the board’s leadership has paved the way forward.

Members shared their highlights:

• Securing major grant funding for new school construction: Securing $42 million for the construction of a new school — a rare accomplishment, according to Hunt, that will benefit generations of students. The board overcame logistical hurdles, including ensuring proper road access and utilities, to lay the foundation for future educational growth.
• Upgrading athletic facilities: Under their leadership, the board managed to invest approximately $2 million in resurfacing the tracks at all four high schools.
• Implementing progressive student policies: One of the first statewide vaping and cell phone regulations. These policies didn’t just address disciplinary issues, they also incorporated mental health and addiction support for students’ well-being. “The cell phone policy, the media policy, and the vaping policy. I’m very proud of that work. … At that time, we had the only vaping policy in the state,” Craven said.
• Efficient use of federal funding: Helped the district become one of the top two in the state for efficiently utilizing federal ESSER funds — $45 billion allocated for schools during the pandemic. “We pushed to spend every penny,” Sohovich said. ESSER provided grants to schools to address the impact of COVID-19.
• Implementing the dual immersion program: Promoting bilingual education in elementary students, expanding into middle school education this school year.
• Achieving consensus and securing increased funding: By revisiting and rewriting a resolution that dated back to 1983, the board ensured that schools received an additional $1.5 million. This funding directly affected 901 staff members, allowing staff raises and contributing to enhanced educational resources. “We came to peace with our county commissioners, and we were able to make some much better decisions and have better funding for our school system. That was huge, that was historical,” Craven said.

CHALLENGES

The challenges faced by board members during their tenure were primarily rooted in navigating the difficult and divisive circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hunt emphasized that despite the nature of the situation, everyone on the board acted in good faith, trying to do what they believed was right, even as the situation evolved, and the public’s emotions were heightened.

Craven shared that the rapid onset of COVID-19, just months after she joined the board, introduced a level of uncertainty. Craven said her decisions were guided by a commitment to do what was best for children, based on available scientific data. Her personal stance was that masking should have been optional, allowing parents to make the choice.

Sohovich said her biggest challenges were personal attacks undermining her integrity, ethics, and principles.

REGRETS

When asked about regrets, the outgoing chair of the board, named regrets “useless emotions.”

“I’ve often found that regrets are kind of a useless emotion because there’s really nothing you can do about regrets, other than maybe learn from it the next time something similar comes up,” Hunt said.

LOOKING AHEAD

Monday, Nov. 25, will be the final meeting for four of the seven board members.

Remaining members Aaron Johnson, Leslie Taylor, and Tiana Beachler will be joined by newly elected board members on Monday, Dec. 2. Incoming members are Jamey Wycoff, Jeffrey Reid Beck, Brad Camp, and Sonya Rockett.