Jane Kilgore has been named president of the Lowndes County School Board. However, the vote was not unanimous with board member Jacqueline Gray vehemently voicing her objections.
“The reason why I’m not going to vote for Mrs. Kilgore for president, for vice president, for secretary, is because last time she was president, she called me a racist, in the board room, for no reason.” Gray said. “A racist. So I will never vote for her to be in charge of this board. It’s insulting and appalling.”
Kilgore, who was nominated by fellow board member Brian Clark, did not respond to Gray’s comment.
Gray nominated Bobby Barksdale for a second term as president but he withdrew his name from the vote.
Gray asked Barksdale, “That’s what you want to do? You know what’s going to happen don’t you? It’s going to start as soon as you leave that seat.”
The motion for Kilgore to be president of the board passed 3-1, with Gray opposed. Board member Wes Barrett arrived late to Friday’s meeting and missed the vote.
The board also voted to name Barksdale as vice president and Barrett as secretary. They voted to retain Jeff Smith as the board attorney and Joey Henderson as the board architect.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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