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13 candidates to vie for school board 3 more file for city race BY RAYTEVIA EVANS ray@theitem.com (803) 774-1214
Sumter School District board of trustee’s member Patty Wilson will have more company for the race for her Area 3 seat. With Friday’s noon deadline for candidates to file, Lucille McQuilla became the 13th and final school board office seeker, including four candidates running for the Area 3 seat alone. Lamar Atkins, another candidate running against Wilson, also joined the race earlier this week, while 1983 Sumter High School graduate Philip Marlowe declared his candidacy for
the Area 1 seat. Atkins worked in Sumter School District 17 before consolidation for more than 40 years and said he called Wilson, who he has known for a while, to inform her of his intent to run for the position. “I’m an advocate for what’s best for the children, and I’m paying back for all of the history beMARLOWE cause I have three daughters, one who graduated Sumter High in ’89, one in ’93 and the last one in 2000,” Atkins said. “I called Patty Wilson, and I’ve known her, and we’ve been friends for many years. I told her
I was running, and we laughed about it.” Atkins, like many of the candidates, has contributed to the community and the school district in previous years — lending a hand with decisions on attendance lines during consolidation. Marlowe, a small business owner and a graduate of Lander University, said he has been in Sumter since 1981 and also has connections with the school district. His mother and wife taught for Sumter public schools, and his son graduated from Sumter High and is now a teacher in the district. “I believe that it is essential that we
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Technical College that initiated STEM 10, where the school district and CCTC will offer mechatronics classes to students starting in the 10th grade to prepare them for jobs similar to those at Continental Tire the Americas, Eaton and other surrounding businesses. “We need to focus on building bridges and being receptive. The unity we have, we couldn’t do without the support of our community and county council which funded our budget this year,” Baker said. Baker acknowledged that in their efforts to continue to move the district forward and provide the best education for Sumter County youth, they will encounter some tough days and some obstacles. “We cannot lose sight of the challenges that lay ahead. There will be days that we’ll get discouraged, but
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MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM
Sumter High School’s Suzanne Koty was named 2014-15 District Teacher of the Year by Sumter County School District at Friday’s annual Back-to-School meeting.
SHS’ Suzanne Koty honored during Back-to-School meeting Kicking off the last weekend of summer break, Sumter School District hosted its Back-to-School meeting Friday afternoon at Sumter County Civic Center — welcoming more than 1,000 teachers and administrators. The educators packed the center for the twohour event where the 2014-15 District Teacher of the Year was announced, and Superintendent Frank Baker shared his goals for the academic year. Tina Sorrells, the 2013-14 District Teacher of the Year and the new chairwoman for Sumter Teacher Forum, announced Suzanne Koty of Sumter High School as the new District Teacher of the Year. “I am honored to have the opportunity to represent these men and women of Sumter School District,” Koty said
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after receiving the title Friday afternoon. “I’m really excited to work with everyone, and I’m looking forward to a good year.” Shaw Heights Elementary School’s Tamitha Sellers and Hillcrest Middle School’s Sheila Ragin-Choice were finalists for the 2014-15 District Teacher of the Year. During his remarks, Baker said this year the school district will focus more on accountability, collaboration and partnerships and recognizing success. He pointed out that Wednesday’s 16th Annual Sumter County Teachers’ Luncheon, organized and hosted by the Sumter County Ministerial Alliance and the Sumter County Concerned Clergy, is one example of collaborating and building relationships with members of the community — something they hope to do even more of in the 2014-15 school year. He also highlighted the partnership with Central Carolina
BY BRADEN BUNCH braden@theitem.com (803) 774-1201 Sumter voters in two of the four city council seats up for election in November will have choices to make when they go to the polls, while the other two incumbents can rest easy, as they have been virtually guaranteed re-election. Three more candidates, all of whom have sought public ofWHITAKER fice before, filed their paperwork shortly before Friday’s noon deadline. The filing by both Alan Cannon and Edsel CANNON “Whit” Whitaker to enter the special election to fill the Ward 4 seat means the 84-year-old Colleen Yates, who last served on council 30 years JOE ago, will now be in a three-way race to finish the last two years of the term being vacated by Charles Burns, who is moving outside the ward. “It’s time to get involved again,” Whitaker said, adding he thinks the city has made some gains recently but still has some issues to deal with. The 55-year-old Whitaker last ran for Sumter mayor in 2004, receiving 31 percent of the vote in his unsuccessful bid against Mayor Joe McElveen. “We need to work the idea of getting Sumter out of the negative light and into the positive spotlight,” Whitaker said. Meanwhile, the 45-year-old Cannon, who is one of the coowners of Elmore-CannonStephens Funeral Home, said he had been encouraged to run by several of his neighbors and that he felt it was important that he give back to the community that has served him well as a business owner. “I just felt like it was a good time to be a part of what was going on in town and be a part of the positive change,” Cannon said. This will be Cannon’s second run for office. Two years ago, he unsuccessfully challenged the Rev. Ralph Canty for a position on the Sumter School District board of trustees. Meanwhile, the Rev. Charles Joe’s decision to challenge councilman Thomas “Bubba” Lowery prompts a rematch of the 2010 race for Ward 1. Four years ago, Lowery defeated the 63-year-old retired educator, receiving 63 percent of the vote. In confirming his bid for office, Joe said he simply wants
Teacher of the Year named
BY RAYTEVIA EVANS ray@theitem.com (803) 774-1214
New candidates all previously ran for public office
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