CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article mischaracterized what GOP Chairman Sean McGowan said about the next step in the process of filling the vacant seat on the I-SS Board of Education. That error has been corrected.
BY DONNA SWICEGOOD
The Iredell County Republican Party Executive Committee has chosen a teacher at Statesville Christian School as its nominee to fill the District 2 seat on the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education.
The GOP leadership voted to nominate Matthew Youngblood, who teaches middle school Bible and history courses at the private school, after considering a total of five candidates at its meeting on Monday evening.
The next step, GOP Chairman Sean McGowan said, is to send a letter to the I-SS Board endorsing Youngblood for the seat. The school board will determine when it fills the vacancy, he said.
If the nomination is approved by the I-SS Board, Youngblood will serve out the term of Kevin Angell, who resigned his seat in late January, following an altercation with board member Mike Kubiniec. Other school board members have called on Kubiniec, who is running for a seat in the N.C. House, to resign as well.
The GOP Executive Committee was tapped with selecting Angell’s replacement because it is a partisan seat and was held by a Republican.
The other candidates who notified the GOP that they were interested in the seat were former I-SS Board member Charles Kelly, Katie Kitchin, Alison Palmeter and Barbara Thorson.
Youngblood, a veteran who served a tour of duty in Iraq in 2005, said he decided to seek the seat for one reason. “I have a love for the children,” he said.
Prior to the vote, the five candidates answered questions from the executive committee members and others in attendance.
One of the questions addressed to Youngblood concerned his career in private schools.
He said he believes his experience as an educator and a father will be of value to the school board. “Education is a passion of mine,” he said.
McGowan, who lives in District 2, said he was glad to have a recommendation for the school board because District 2 deserves representation. Any of the five candidates would have made a positive impact on the board, he added.
“I am very impressed with the caliber of people” who applied, McGowan said.
The I-SS Board deadlocked 3-3 on a motion to accept Angell’s resignation at its meeting earlier this month.
Does he even have children in ISS? Will he really be able to keep the separation of church and state? Will we now see a push for religious doctrine in our schools? I am very doubtful. Hopefully he will act like an adult unlike K and K who are surely thrilled with their new ally.
Donna, God forbid they appointment anyone who has Christian values . Our schools need religious doctrine. Why is the left so afraid of religion in any aspect of our world? You have some scary concerns.
Charles Kelly is the man for this job, I can’t believe you would choose someone else over his expertise.
Two friends I really respect just commented about him being a great choice. My reservations would be he is an educator, yes, but he works for a private school. How can he possibly understand the needs of the public schools? Our students have different needs and our teachers need different support. He is a veteran, which I respect and a Christian which I respect. Now if he can take his military experience and follow Jesus by washing everyone’s feet, I will stand behind him. The teachers at ISS are in the fox holes. We are boots on the ground. Teaching our students hits different! I invite him to visit my classroom any day, anytime to get a sense of the feet we wash. These students need an advocate and to be heard. Not to have a “thunder dome”. I pray he has the heart we need.
Youngblood has extensive budgeting and personnel management experience and well rounded local teaching experience. What is wrong with his Christian values that align with most Iredell county voters anyway? Great choice among some great candidates. The NC general statues allow this appointment. Anyone sceptical of Youngblood’s nomination should reach out to GOP Chairman for a copy of Youngblood’s impressive resume. The GOP did an outstanding job of questioning and selecting their choice. New blood is exactly what this School board needs to give representation back to all districts and to get back to listening to the constituents and to get its focus back on our children. Great choice GOP.
Mike,
Great and factual comment about the best choice to replace unhinged Kevin Angle on the school board. Mr. Youngblood will stand up for righteousness, and he will fight back against the previous biased tyranny shown by some board chairpersons. The fact that he has no children in public school is irrelevant, the fact that he believes in Christian principles rather than progressive DEI and filthy library books is commendable, the fact that he absolutely will not behave like Mr. Charles Kelly, who considered that the sexually vulgar books were just another kind of sex education—look up his quote spoken at a school board meeting—shows that he has common sense, and the fact that he will be the new school board member, in spite of those on the school board who would prefer another person, should be celebrated by the citizens and especially the parents of Iredell County.
The school board meeting next month should be very interesting.
Board of Education members should have children that attend public schools. We have had this same problem in the county where now I live. A young man was voted onto the board whose daughter attended a Christian school. He moved her to public schools when he became a member of the Board of Education.
I grew up in Iredell County, and my education in the public school system was outstanding. We didn’t have all these problems with School Board members back then. It is shameful how Iredell County’s members behave.
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE CHILDREN ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.