SANFORD —
Sandra Bowen said she began running the race for the Lee County Board of Education for her three children, all of whom are enrolled or will be enrolled in the Lee County school system.
Now that she has been elected, along with Mark Akinosho and Ophelia Livingston, she will have a hand in moving the school system forward through the next four years.
Republican Bowen was the top vote-getter in Lee County’s first-ever partisan school board election Tuesday, earning 19.2 percent of the vote. Democrats Akinosho and Livingston received 17.1 and 16.1 percent, respectively.
Livingston beat Republican Phillip Helms, who took 16.1 percent, by just 32 votes, while Democrat Shawn Williams had 15.8 percent and Republican David Schau had 15.6 percent.
Akinosho has served one term on the board already, and Bowen and Livingston will fill the seats of John Bonardi and Linda Smith, who did not seek re-election.
Bowen
Bowen, a communication instructor at Fayetteville Technical Community College, is no stranger to school board meetings, and often could be found in the audience long before she sought election.
“I’m thrilled,” Bowen said once the votes were counted Tuesday. “I’m absolutely thrilled. I got into this on behalf of my three kids, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to represent the other [10,000] in the county.”
Bowen said as a parent, she often felt left out of the educational process and “blindsided by policy shifts.” She said she wants all parents who walk into the LCHS board room to feel like they have a voice in their children’s education.
“I’m asking all the parents who voted for me to step up and step out and get involved in the school system,” Bowen said. “I’m ready to get to work.”
Akinosho
The only incumbent in the school board election, Mark Akinosho, pointed extensively to the work he already has done in his first four years with the board.
“I am so glad,” Akinosho said of his re-election. “It is an affirmation of all the work I have already done on the board.”
Among the board’s accomplishments throughout Akinosho’s tenure are a significant increase in the county’s graduation rate (from less than 70 percent up to 87.5 percent) and the implementation of various academic programs such as the Leader in Me and Advancement Via Individual Determination.
Citing his top priority for his second term, Akinosho said, “Improving our students’ test scores is the most important thing. I want our test scores to move forward, and I want to improve the schools’ technical education programs.”
Livingston
Ophelia Livingston has lived in Lee County for 26 years and emphasized increased communication and collaboration among teachers, parents and the school board throughout her campaign.
“It feels great,” Livingston said after the results were in. “I’m looking forward to the new position.”
Livingston praised programs such as the National Academy Foundation and Achievement Via Individual Determination, which aid students in earning certificates that allow them to be job ready upon graduation from high school.
“I love our AVID program,” Livingston said. “I love our NAF academies. I’m a big champion of those two, along with the Leader In Me. When we work with kids at early age, we can capture a lot of things going on in the school system, the attitude and character of the children. That makes Lee County better and moves Lee County forward.”
The old guard
Veteran board members Tamara Brogan and Cameron Sharpe said they are pleased to see Akinosho return and excited to welcome Bowen and Livingston.
“I’m glad Mark got re-elected,” Sharpe said. “I think we have some good things going on, and I want him to continue to be a part of it.”
“I think all three of them will do well,” Brogan added. “They are all hard workers, and we all have good working relationships. I’m just looking forward to working with them.”
LCS Superintendent Dr. Andy Bryan said he already has reached out to schedule individual meetings with the new board members.
“They bring a passion and commitment to educating the children in our community,” Bryan said of the members. “We really try to take a team approach to do what is best for our students.”
The next school board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at LCHS, and Bowen and Livingston will begin their terms in January 2015.