FOXY RAE CAMPBELL
NONPARTISAN
Why are you running?
I am running because the future of our children and community depends on strong, principled leadership on the school board. Sumter School District must return to the fundamentals of education - ensuring safety, academic excellence and fiscal responsibility. As a mother, business leader and long-time resident, I understand the importance of equipping students with the skills and values to succeed while being a good steward of taxpayer dollars.
Have you run for political office before? If so, explain:
Yes, I ran for mayor in both 2020 and 2024 (lost both times), gaining critical experience in public service and advocacy. These campaigns gave me an in-depth understanding of the challenges in our community - from education to economic development - and strengthened my resolve to deliver solutions.
How long have you lived at the address you filed with?
17 years
Current job/profession:
I am the broker in charge of BrownstoneHunt Real Estate, where I lead a team that values hard work, integrity and results.
What makes you qualified for the seat?
My qualifications come from a lifetime of leadership and service. As a business leader, I've built my career on accountability, strategic planning and bringing people together to solve problems. As a parent and long-time community member, I am deeply invested in making sure our schools are safe, our teachers are supported and our children are prepared for their future. My conservative approach emphasizes fiscal responsibility, data-driven decisions and empowering parents.
What challenges/concerns do you see in Sumter School District (up to 3), and how do you intend to improve them?
1. School safety: Ensuring the safety of students and staff is non-negotiable. I will prioritize proven security measures, such as enhanced campus security systems, school resource officers and partnerships with law enforcement, while expanding mental health resources to address issues before they become crises.
2. Accountability in education: We need to restore trust in our schools. I will demand transparency in spending, rigorous performance evaluations for teachers and administrators and measurable goals to ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively.
3. Improving academic achievement: Our focus must be on foundational skills - reading, writing, math and civics. I will advocate for curriculum transparency and parental involvement, empowering families to play an active role in their children's education.
What successes have you seen in Sumter School District that you want to build on?
The district has demonstrated success in fostering partnerships with local organizations and businesses and creating extracurricular opportunities for students. I want to expand these efforts to connect students with real-world experiences, such as trade programs, apprenticeships and dual-enrollment opportunities, ensuring they graduate ready for the workforce or higher education.
Do you have children or grandchildren who attend a Sumter School District school?
Not currently. My son graduated from Sumter High School. As a parent, I understand the concerns that families face when it comes to their children's education.
Do you have a spouse or child who works in Sumter School District, and what do they do?
No.
Sumter School District has 15 schools that are more than 60 years old and has not constructed any schools since the 1990s. However, the district is also losing enrollment. The previous board of trustees created a Master Plan Committee to craft a long-term vision for the district's facilities. What do you believe should be part of that vision?
The vision must be realistic and responsible, focusing on creating safe, modern and cost-effective learning environments. With declining enrollment, we need to prioritize renovations over new construction and ensure facilities are right-sized to match our population. I also support exploring public-private partnerships and energy-efficient upgrades to reduce long-term costs. It's vital that we engage the community in this process and make decisions that respect taxpayers while meeting the needs of our students and teachers.
Are you actively involved in the community? How so?
Absolutely. I'm deeply involved in Sumter through my work with SMAC IMPACT, an organization founded to support business growth, education and local economic development. I also donate to different organizations that are heavily involved with the community. These roles have allowed me to work closely with families, businesses and local leaders to strengthen Sumter.
PHIL LEVENTIS
NONPARTISAN
Why are you running?
There is nothing more important to a positive future for Sumter than the success of our public schools.
Have you run for political office before? If so, explain:
I've served in elective public office for 32 years in the South Carolina Senate and prior to that on the Airport commission for Sumter County. I also ran for the Sumter School board Area 8 seat in 2022 (lost in runoff to Jeff Zell).
How long have you lived at the address you filed with?
My wife and I and our family have lived at our current address for 35 years.
Current job/profession:
I'm retired.
What makes you qualified for the seat?
I feel qualified because I have the interest, experience and time to focus on education as well as the business of education, one of the biggest businesses in our country as well as our county.
My experience includes being a professional pilot before entering the Air Force and the South Carolina Air National Guard, from which I retired as a brigadier general. I served in the S.C. State Senate for 32 years.
I was the president of Dixie Beverage Co., later Dixie Central, a family business that I operated with my father, and was subsequently a partner. I was the principal general partner for 28 years of a family real estate partnership with properties in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
Along with several other people from Sumter, I helped found the Sumter National Bank, serving as the board chair. I was the director of development for the S.C. Firefighters' Association Foundation that supported firefighters and their families. I continued to fly professionally after retiring from the Air National Guard.
What challenges/concerns do you see in Sumter School District (up to 3), and how do you intend to improve them?
I want to focus on support and enhancement of our professional staff of educators. I want to improve the results regarding standards for student behavior and enforcement of discipline. I want to ensure fiscal accountability and stewardship of the district's real estate and personal property assets.
What successes have you seen in Sumter School District that you want to build on?
The career center, the activities in music and choral performances as well as in sports and the ROTC help build a higher rate of graduation, which is very positive for our community. For those headed for postsecondary education, the International Baccalaureate program and the opportunity to get college credit programs at USC Sumter and Central Carolina are also very positive making higher education more affordable.
Do you have children or grandchildren who attend a Sumter School District school? Please specify (you don't need to give their names).
While I do not have any children currently in the Sumter school system, all of our four children graduated from the Sumter school system and got a very good foundation to be successful in the colleges they attended.
Do you have a spouse or child who works in Sumter School District and what do they do? Please specify (you don't need to give their names).
I do not have any relatives who currently work in the Sumter school system. I did, however, have a niece who lived with us while she taught second grade in the Sumter schools some years ago. I had an opportunity to see firsthand how demanding teaching in elementary school can be. Watching her prepare for school every day gave me a new appreciation for how incredibly demanding it is to be a good teacher.
Sumter School District has 15 schools that are more than 60 years old and has not constructed any schools since the 1990s. However, the district is also losing enrollment. The previous board of trustees created a Master Plan Committee to craft a long-term vision for the district's facilities. What do you believe should be part of that vision?
I hope to join the board and work as part of a team to build a vision for our community through public education. It would be inappropriate for me to preach to those currently on the board who I seek to partner with as we work to improve Sumter's future.
Are you actively involved in the community? How so?
I'm currently a member of the Sumter Rotary club. I have for many years walked hundreds and hundreds of miles throughout Sumter from South Sumter, where my business was located, in Cherryvale, Dalzell, Mayesville, Shiloh, Rembert, Rimini and Pinewood. I have walked every inch of the Shot Pouch Greenway and Swan Lake-Iris Gardens. While this is not normally considered "community involvement," it has given me a unique insight and broad perspective of Sumter County. And, of course, it has allowed me to interact and network with people all over our great community.
TOM MONTGOMERY
NONPARTISAN
Why are you running?
I am running for the school board because I believe in education's transformative power. While I believe all students have the privilege of being in the classroom no student has the right to prevent other students from learning. I am encouraged by the drive to incorporate STEM/STEAM programs in the schools and am committed to strengthening these programs.
I have observed disparities in resource allocation, minimal attention to school security (although that is changing), and acceptance of student academic mediocrity. Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that student misbehavior is condoned as educators have minimal resources to combat these disruptions. This is a disservice to students, parents and educators and must be corrected. I am awed by our teacher's dedication to their students and how they continually overcome institutional roadblocks.
As a school board member, I would expect to be part of the team that collaborates with the superintendent focusing on policies that drive student success, treating educators as professionals and fiscal responsibility. Additionally, local and regional businesses require a world-class workforce to thrive. Constructive conversations with local and regional companies could provide a pathway to meeting area workforce needs while meeting state educational requirements.
Have you run for political office before? If so, explain:
No. Recent conversations with friends and peers suggesting I run for the school board convinced me to enter.
How long have you lived at the address you filed with?
About seven years.
Current job/profession:
Retired from the U.S. Air Force/Air National Guard as well as Verizon.
What makes you qualified for the seat?
Sumter School District's mission and vision are prominently displayed on its home page (www.sumterschools.net). Conversations with school leaders, educators and most importantly students indicate these goals are not met. The results published on screportcards.com indicate Sumter School District significantly lags behind school success metrics in most categories compared to South Carolina as a whole. Besides being one, I have studied and observed successful organizational leaders and managers. A common theme to success is finding positive solutions. Sumter educators and their students should be the priority in this school district. Extraneous duties and responsibilities must be eliminated so teachers are not sidetracked from their primary responsibility, which is providing their students with the best education possible.
What challenges/concerns do you see in Sumter School District (up to 3), and how do you intend to improve them?
Macro Level: Maintenance of school facilities has been neglected. One example is evidenced by facility ceiling tiles showing water leakage and only being replaced when the greater problem of a leaking roof or leaking pipes is not addressed. Findings and observations from the Sumter Master Plan Committee must move beyond study/recommendations to action.
Micro Level: The school district seems slow to respond to identified shortcomings. As an example, it was noted that the English as a Second Language (ESL) staff was inadequate - one part-time teacher at a specific school. Some years ago, the recommendation was for at least two full-time positions to meet this need. Several years later this issue was finally addressed. Identified shortcomings that negatively impact students must be acknowledged and addressed quickly.
Conversations with local and regional business leaders identify a common theme with many Sumter School District students. While they may be proficient in work skills, they are woefully unprepared for a work environment requiring teamwork, dealing with conflict and people/soft skills. Generally, businesses expect to train employees in industry or company-specific skills but not basic people skills.
These shortcomings force organizations to invest additional training time in employees. Anecdotally, organizations are saying that most employees are losing employment due to their inability to work with others in various forms. Integrating a higher level of soft/people skills into the classroom environment would help students prepare for careers after high school. Specific input from educators on how to tailor these general skills to their respective teaching environments could provide guidelines for district-wide implementation.
What successes have you seen in Sumter School District that you want to build on?
Some schools are working towards becoming nationally accredited STEM Schools (Ebenezer Middle School), and others have already earned STEM accreditation (Bates Middle School). Additionally, students in the fine arts program have garnered state recognition.
The Sumter School District realignment study of 2021 and the follow-up recommendations in March 2022 and postponed for the 2023/24 school year should be reconsidered for implementation. Understandably, there will be short-term inconveniences for students and families but students arriving on time for their first class of the day and potential transportation-related cost savings should be the priority.
I see the need to strengthen collaboration between Sumter School District and The Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce. One goal of the chamber of commerce is to bring businesses to the Sumter community and to provide multiple opportunities for people to continue to make Sumter their home. Businesses interacting with classroom activities would demonstrate that multiple careers can be found in the Sumter area.
Do you have children or grandchildren who attend a Sumter School District school? Please specify (you don't need to give their names).
No.
Do you have a spouse or child who works in Sumter School District and what do they do? Please specify (you don't need to give their names).
Yes. Classroom teacher.
Sumter School District has 15 schools that are more than 60 years old and has not constructed any schools since the 1990s. However, the district is also losing enrollment. The previous board of trustees created a Master Plan Committee to craft a long-term vision for the district's facilities. What do you believe should be part of that vision?
This question is answered based on the April 18, 2024, Sumter Master Plan Committee meeting. The overarching issue for the residents of Sumter County is the funding for any decisions to refurbish or build schools. Based on Superintendent William Wright's example of North Carolina utilizing state lottery funds to subsidize school construction it would be wise to include Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives - Murrell Smith Jr. - in an effort to quickly initiate a similar process. According to www.sceducationlottery.com, since its inception in January 2002 and through Fiscal Year 2022/23, $17,504,437 has been distributed to Sumter County for K-12 education purposes. While this may cover some of the basics for additional school needs it is a small part of the district budget.
Important to the discussion of declining enrollment is if there is a general decline in the student-age population or if area students have enrolled in alternative avenues of education, such as home-schooling or private schools. More information is necessary before decisions can be made on school expansion or consolidation.
The long-term vision must incorporate a superior physical school environment and inspire our educators to continue to teach our children.
Are you actively involved in the community? How so?
Yes, I'm a volunteer Guardian ad Litem for the state of South Carolina. After the Department of Social Services opens a case, a Guardian ad Litem is court-appointed to investigate and advocate for the best interests of a child(ren) in family court proceedings involving allegations of abuse or neglect.
I am also a Sumter Youth Corp facilitator. The program offers training in conjunction with employment for the City of Sumter for children ages 14 and 15. They are hired to work in various city government office departments during the summer; and also receive training and exposure to the 17 Principles of Success from The Napoleon Hill Foundation (2008, 1928).
Furthermore, I am engaged with The Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce:
- Active participant in the Education and Workforce Development Council: The council works to strengthen existing partnerships between the business community and Sumter's educational institutions.
- Educator of the Year Awards: I review submissions, participate in teacher interviews and vote for the respective Educator of the Year award winners. This award recognizes Sumter educators displaying leadership, citizenship and community engagement at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
- Golden Apple Award presenter: The Golden Apple Awards are an opportunity to recognize students within Sumter School District who exhibit outstanding characteristics, such as honesty, integrity, perseverance and service to others.
KEITH SCHULTZ
NONPARTISAN
Why are you running?
I have a strong passion and desire to see public education improved in Sumter County, and I want to be a part of setting parameters to do just that!
Have you run for political office before? If so, explain:
Yes, I have six years of experience as a Sumter school board member. For two of those years, I was the board chairman.
- Won election for two-year term on the final Sumter School District 17 board.
- Won election and served on the first consolidated district Board of Trustees from 2011-15.
- Lost general election for re-election bid to the board.
How long have you lived at the address you filed with?
20 years.
Current job/profession:
I am semi-retired and owner of Schultz Lawn Service.
What makes you qualified for the seat?
- Eight years serving in the military in the U.S. Air Force
- 30 years in banking and finance
- I am a Christian
- I stay abreast of district business and attend board meetings regularly
- I am an advocate of public education
- Strength and experience in mediation and negotiation
- Merger and facility closure experience
What challenges/concerns do you see in Sumter School District (up to 3), and how do you intend to improve them?
One is the educational results of the entire student body. A path toward improvement would be holding the superintendent accountable for his results, or lack thereof. We need to create a firm timeline with a Performance Improvement Plan.
Secondly, is my concern that "grant" money is being used to supplement teacher salary shortage funds. A path toward improvement is to be more suspect of grant usage and to initiate a forensic audit.
Third, is the continued reduction in enrollment and facility occupancy. A path toward improvement is a full facility occupancy study. It was 52% before, and it most certainly has gotten worse. Stop all external facility expenditures, including athletic facilities. Then, speak with one consolidated voice and move forward.
What successes have you seen in Sumter School District that you want to build on?
Automated payment approval procedures. Also, noted improvement in bus arrival/departure times. There have also been discipline policy improvements.
Do you have children or grandchildren who attend a Sumter School District school? Please specify (you don't need to give their names).
No. I have a son who graduated from Sumter High School previously.
Do you have a spouse or child who works in Sumter School District and what do they do? Please specify (you don't need to give their names).
No.
Sumter School District has 15 schools that are more than 60 years old and has not constructed any schools since the 1990s. However, the district is also losing enrollment. The previous board of trustees created a Master Plan Committee to craft a long-term vision for the district's facilities. What do you believe should be part of that vision?
School closures and consolidation. Also, a technical high school. Establish an enforced timeline of the Master Plan Committee. Superintendent accountability.
Are you actively involved in the community? How so?
Yes, I have served as an Optimist and Rotarian. Also, I have spent time coaching both basketball and baseball. I mentored children in the "star-student" program at Crosswell Drive Elementary School. I was a Junior Achievement teacher for three years at Sumter High School and Bates Middle School. Supporter of "Sumter Strong," which is a Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce initiative. Also, previously chaired United Way campaign allocation panel for distribution of fundraising dollars.
If elected, I will commit to provide conservative values and education accountability with all my might.
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