Editor, The Progress:

Filing for the Pickens County School Board begins on August 2. The board will face many critical issues over the next four years. Paramount will be the selection of a new Superintendent.

Dr. Henry Hunt’s TERI period ends at the end of the 2012 school year, and he’ll retire.

Dr. Hunt was a fine teacher, then a principal, worked in the district office and became Superintendent. All his years of experience in the district contributed greatly to his success.

In 2012, when the new school board sits down to pick his replacement, will they look internally again or roll the dice and choose someone outside the district?

The board made that mistake four years ago, when it chose Dr. Lee D’Andrea. D’Andrea, with the support of allies like Board Chairman B.J. Skelton and Herb Cooper, ignored the wishes of the voters, adopted the Greenville Plan and put Pickens County $600 million in debt.

They ran over principals, and teachers lived in fear of retribution if they didn’t toe the line. Communities and parents were ignored and D’Andrea left chaos in her wake.

We have talented principals who have years of experience in our district. Michael Cory (Gettys Middle), Daany Merck (Easley High), Marion Lawson (Pickens High) and Gary Culler (Edwards Middle) are names to consider when Dr. Hunt retires.

Board members don’t need to look beyond the borders of our district to find the talent we’ll need at the top. Vote wisely in November.