Greene vs Cole: Round two

Ledger Staff Writer

In a reprise of the 2000 election, Clay Cole and Sandra Greene are running for the District 6 school board seat.

Cole is the incumbent school board member, having defeated Greene’s bid for a fourth term on the school board. The elementary schools in the district are Alma, Mary Bramlett and Luther Vaughan.

A Gaffney High graduate, Cole is a job supervisor for Cole’s Welding. He and his wife, Stacy, have three children.

“I have proudly served in this position for the past four years,” Cole said. “During this time, I have always focused on what is in the best interest of the children, the citizens and the taxpayers of Cherokee County.”

His key issues are improving the district’s facilities, completing the Gaffney High School project and school board accountability for decisions made by administrators.

The Alma Elementary renovations have been a major issue recently. The project is currently on hold pending the outcome of a bid protest filed by Sossamon Construction.

Cole initially proposed building a new Alma and Mary Bramlett Elementary. After that plan failed, the school trustee turned his focus to the school renovations.

“As the issue of renovation was being determined, Alma was unfortunate to be caught up in what appears to be a case of poor communication,” he said. “Structural changes were begun on the kitchen area before the bid documents were ready to be placed out for bid. The board was not aware of the fact that the kitchen was being removed until the process was at a point of no return.”

Greene’s granddaughter, Dakota Greene, is a student at Alma Elementary School.

“Alma is the only elementary school in the entire district without a working kitchen,” said Greene, who served on the school board from 1988-2000. “It is a shame that something has not been done already to alleviate the problem.”

Greene is a Work Force Consultant with the Cherokee County Department of Social Services. She has served on several boards and community service organizations including First Steps, Communities in Schools, and the Cherokee County Teen Pregnancy Council.

Greene, a Gaffney High graduate, was married to the late Judge Charles S. Greene. Their two sons, Charles Greene Jr. and Christopher Joel Greene, graduated from Gaffney High.

“I will always stand up for the rights of the children, parents, and taxpayers of this community while maintaining a high standard for education,” she said. “I am seeking this office to see that all our children in Cherokee County receive the very best education possible. I don’t think we should ever settle for anything less.”