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VOTE411 Voter Guide

Charleston County School Board Special Election Dist 4

The Charleston County School Board is nonpartisan and made up of nine local citizens each representing a district within the county. Each member is elected for a four-year term. Elections are held in November of even-numbered years. School board members determine the vision and goals for the district. They adopt policies that give the district direction to set priorities and meet its goals. Members hire and evaluate the superintendent and adopt and oversee the yearly budget.NOTE:This candidate’s responses were not available before our publication deadline. Voters are welcome to encourage the candidate to share their views. Updated responses will be posted as they are received.

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  • Candidate picture

    Clara Bailey
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Carla R Gadson
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Craig Logan
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Donnimechia Singleton
    (NP)

Biographical Information

What do you see as the school board’s primary responsibility, and what is the most urgent issue the board should address at this time?

School board decisions can reflect differing viewpoints among members. Please share some experiences you've had in working collaboratively to find solutions with colleagues who hold different perspectives.

Right now, the majority bloc on the board holds every leadership position, which prevents the four minority‑bloc members from having a voice in leadership decisions. What is your view on how leadership roles should be distributed, and how would you promote fair representation?

School boards don’t set immigration policy, but they do shape how immigrant and mixed‑status families experience school. What steps would you take to ensure these students feel safe, included, and able to succeed?

Website and/or You-Tube Video http://Clarabaileyforschoolboard.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/1AzEVuBAyV/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Education BA from College of Charleston
Experience 8 years as a grant administrator at MUSC, 10 years as a small business owner
The school board’s primary responsibility is to make sure every student has access to a strong education and that our schools are giving kids the tools they need to succeed after graduation, whatever path they choose.

The board should focus on setting clear goals, being responsible with taxpayer money, listening to parents and teachers, and supporting the superintendent and school leadership so they can do their jobs effectively. I believe the board works best when it stays focused on students and works collaboratively instead of creating unnecessary division.

Right now, the biggest issue is improving academic outcomes while rebuilding trust and consistency across the district. Parents want transparency, teachers need support, and students deserve classrooms where they can thrive. We need to focus on strong academics, teacher retention, and creating more opportunities for students through career programs, arts, athletics, and workforce training.

I want to be part of a board that supports the superintendent, works together professionally, and stays focused on what matters most which is helping students succeed.
Owning and operating a small business has given me a lot of experience working collaboratively with people who have different perspectives and priorities. Running a small business means balancing creative ideas, financial realities, customer expectations, and long term goals. My business partner and I have not always approached decisions the same way, whether it involved pricing, inventory, marketing, or growth plans.

What helped us work through those differences was listening to each other, focusing on facts, and keeping the bigger picture in mind instead of trying to “win” an argument. Sometimes that meant compromise, and sometimes it meant adjusting our original thinking after hearing another perspective.

That experience taught me that strong collaboration is built on respect, communication, and staying solution oriented. I believe those same skills are important on a school board where members may have different viewpoints but still need to work together professionally to support students, teachers, and families.
I believe effective boards work best when all members feel they have a voice and an opportunity to contribute, even when there are differences in perspective. While leadership positions are ultimately decided by the board, I think it is important to avoid creating an environment where decisions feel predetermined or where certain members feel completely excluded from leadership conversations.

Good governance requires collaboration, professionalism, and respect for differing viewpoints. I believe leadership roles and committee assignments should reflect a willingness to work together and make sure a variety of perspectives are represented. That does not mean everyone will always agree, but it does mean every member should have the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the work of the board.

If elected, my focus would be on building relationships across the board, encouraging open communication, and helping create a culture where disagreements can happen respectfully without shutting people out. At the end of the day, the priority should be serving students and supporting the district, not political divisions within the board itself.
I believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed in school regardless of their background or family situation. Schools should be focused on education, supporting students, and creating an environment where families feel welcomed and respected.
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