Two newcomers filed to run for the Fort Mill School Board on Tuesday, and Chairwoman Kristy Spears filed paperwork to run again for her seat.
Hazel M. Frick, a former 5th grade teacher at Fort Mill Elementary School, filed with the Board of Elections. Also, Desareta Jones filed to run. Both were not immediately available for an interview, but Frick posted a message on Facebook that said, “Frick for the future of education!”
Spears filed Tuesday to run again, and Dr. Scott Frattaroli is expected to file for re-election in the coming days for his seat. Three seats are up for grabs on the board, and trustee Tom Audette is departing as he looks for a post on the York County Council.
On Monday, Dr. Nichell Newton filed to run for school board. She currently works for Charlotte Mecklenburg schools as a professional school counselor and has children in Fort Mill schools.
According to the school district website, Spears was elected to the Fort Mill School Board in 2016. She and her husband, Robert, live in Tega Cay with their daughter.
Spears is a long term resident of the area, having attended Fort Mill Schools from elementary through graduation from Fort Mill High School in 1986. She graduated from Clemson University in 1990 with a B.S. In Mathematics, where she was hired by Bank of America (then NCNB) into their technology division. She held multiple leadership positions in Project and Risk Management until retirement in 2014.
Spears has been an active volunteer in her daughter’s schools. She has served multiple roles on PTO / PTA Boards, Parent Liaison Committee, School Improvement Council, and AdvancED Accreditation Committee for the Fort Mill School District. She was active in the Tega Cay Community Relations Committee. She Co-Chaired the successful 2015 Keep Our Schools Strong Bond Referendum Committee, which earned her the 2015 Volunteer of the Year award from the Tega Cay Area Chamber of Commerce.
Filing for three positions on the school board opened Monday and continues through noon on Aug. 17.
Editor’s Note: If you are running for the school board and want your photo and profile information published here, please email it to: editor@fortmillsun.com