Aiken County’s New School Board Members Sign In

Aiken, SC—Tonya Weathers is buying groceries for her growing teen.

Tonya Weathers, Parent: “I have one in high school.“

She says she has some growing concerns for her son’s schools.

Weathers: “I’m not really for that, I don’t think. I think that would be better left to adults and things like that.“

She’s talking about tribunals, a new disciplinary system that’s about to be considered by newly elected board members, like Richard Hazen.

Richard Hazen, Aiken County School Board: “The tribunal, it’s one of the things being considered, so I’ve been to meetings about the tribunals, so I’m aware of that, so hopefully, my learning curve won’t be too far behind the others about that.“

Hazen, and three other projected winners, Donna Moore Wesby, Keith Liner and John Bass will have to learn pretty quickly. They start next week.

Hazen: “Tuesday we get sworn in, and we’re there.”

Parents already have some questions for their new leaders…like if bus routes will be affected by budget cuts.

Lisa Lariscey, Parent: “Where we live, we only live a mile from the school and we have to take the kids to school, they don’t come and pick our kids up.“

Hazen hopes with his banking background, he can help with financing and the budget.

Hazen: “School board meetings are going to be less about what we’re going to do in the future, and more about how are we going to keep the lights on, and what are we going to do with the budget.“

And that makes parents like Weathers pretty optimistic.

Weathers: “I think we have a pretty good school system over here.“

Aiken County election officials say they still have to count about one thousand provisional votes, but they do not expect those to affect last night’s outcome.