10 candidates running for 4 Charleston Co. school board seats

Ten candidates want to fill four Charleston County School District board of trustees’ seats that are up for grabs Nov. 5.

The Charleston County school board has been a hotbed of controversy since five Moms for Liberty–backed candidates took the majority of the board’s seats two years ago. Now, opponents of the national right-wing political group have the opportunity to break the hold the faction has over the county’s education system.

“It has become hard to get anything accomplished,” said incumbent Daron Lee Calhoun II of West Ashley. “I have to think about what I’m doing and what I’m doing it for, but now I’m also thinking, ‘What kind of an agenda are they trying to push through?’

“It’s exhausting,” Calhoun continued, “and it should not be that way. I am not a politician, and I do not aspire to be one, but the only way I can advocate for these kids is by playing their game.”

Board members Ed Kelley (District 2), Keith Grybowski (District 1), Pam McKinney (District 3), Carlotte Bailey (District 5) and Leah Whatley (District 7) were each backed by the uber-right Moms for Liberty organization in 2022.

The political rift between these members and the others — Calhoun (District 6), Darlene Dunmeyer-Roberson (District 8), Carol Tempel (District 9) and Courtney Waters (District 4) — has led to ongoing conflict over the last two years, beginning with former Superintendent Eric Gallien’s contract. Its dissolution ultimately cost the district more than $350,000.

“You’ve got two factions on the board, and my constituents all say that we have to find a way to get each other to the table to talk, regardless of political groups,” said District 4 candidate Kevin D. Hollinshead of North Charleston, who previously served on the school board in 2016. “It’s a shame we have a team of adults who don’t know how to put their differences aside. If I was to win, I would reach out to both sides, and I would try to find a happy medium.”

Newcomers feel the tension, too. District 2 candidate Carolina D. Jewett of Mount Pleasant said she was running primarily because of the ongoing division and the downward trend she sees in school leadership.

“Ultimately, these positions should not be political in any way,” she said. “When you make a decision, it should be based on what’s best for all of our children, not whether it’s a Democratic or Republican policy. That just doesn’t belong in the classroom, and it’s going to really hurt our school system.”

Book bannings cause tension

The most recent division amongst board members is over a newly adopted state resolution that makes it easier for parents to label classroom and school library material as “inappropriate,” putting the highlighted item on a track for removal from the school. The resolution comes after years of politically motivated attempted book bannings from right-wing political groups and individuals, including one parent who on one day recommended the removal of nearly 100 books from Berkeley County schools.

Under the new state resolution, a single person can recommend five books be examined per month. The school board is then responsible for analyzing the books and making a decision on whether the content is appropriate.

“It’s going to take us further away from the work that we need to be doing,” Calhoun said. “If we have 10 people challenging five books a month, that’s 50 books every board meeting that we will have to look at. That’s a distraction.

“I have things I want to get done that I believe will be great for this district,” he added. “But how can I when we’re dealing with this mess all day?”

Hollinshead agreed, adding that teachers and school administrations should be trusted to provide classroom materials that are appropriate for their students and that decisions between students and their parents should be left up to the parents.

Jewett said taking books like The Catcher in the Rye out of schools because they make parents uncomfortable will ultimately harm students.

“We need to make sure we’re teaching our kids how to feel comfortable with feeling uncomfortable,” she said. “Adults are still learning this themselves, but if we give kids the tools to do that at a young age, it’s going to be more beneficial for them. … Whether or not you want your children exposed to certain books, it isn’t fair to push it on other kids.”

The City Paper reached out to each of the 10 candidates to talk about their campaign, but only half provided comments, as noted below.

Candidates by district

District 2 (East Cooper)

Ed Kelley (incumbent), of Mount Pleasant, is a Moms for Liberty-backed board member who has championed parental rights in schools since his election in 2022. According to his campaign website, he stands firm against “radical ideology aimed at destroying the families in our country.” Kelley did not respond to requests for comment.

Carolina D. Jewett, of Mount Pleasant, is a small business owner who wants to prioritize keeping education funding in public schools and breaking down political barriers in schools. “When I found out what was going on and where we could be going, I realized if I didn’t run, and nobody else did either, it might become a real concern for Charleston,” she told the City Paper.

District 4 (North Charleston)

Kevin D. Hollinshead, of North Charleston, said he wants the school board to set aside political differences to focus on the needs of students and families, especially those in low-income households or struggling with homelessness. “A student can’t perform in school if they don’t know where they’re sleeping that night,” he said.

Craig Logan, of North Charleston, currently leads Charleston County housing initiatives for the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and serves as the vice president for the Chicora neighborhood association. Logan did not respond to requests for comment.

District 6 (West Ashley-area)

Daron Lee Calhoun II (incumbent), of Charleston, said he is proud of the pay raises the board was able to secure for teachers but wants to continue the trend for classified school staff as well. “We are not where we need to be yet, but we can see the upward trajectory,” he told the City Paper. “I consider that a success.”

Michele Leber, of Johns Island, is a veteran mother of three and wife of Republican State Rep. Matt Leber. Michelle Leber is a vocal opponent of Calhoun for his support for Gallien. She declined to comment on the school board election.

Samuel Whatley II, of North Charleston, who previously ran for the District 6 seat in 2022, said the school board currently appears to act as if “they are still attending middle school lunchroom arguments.” He said one of his biggest priorities will be to get the board back on track to act in the best interest of those within the school system and in accordance with state law.

District 8 (Hollywood-Ravenel-Johns Island)

Darlene Dunmeyer-Roberson, (incumbent), of Hollywood, said the greatest challenge facing county schools is educational equity. “We must continue to advocate for equitable funding models to ensure that all schools, regardless of their location, have access to quality teachers, advanced learning materials and resources,” she told the City Paper.

Michelle Faust, of Johns Island, has been an education advocate since 2013, according to her campaign website. As chair of the District 9 Education Committee, Faust reportedly led efforts to improve local elementary schools, and is running for the school board to extend that support to all children in the county. Faust did not respond to requests for comment.

Charles Glover, of Johns Island, is the board chair of the Charleston County Constituent School Board District 23. Hedid not respond to requests for comment.