EDUCATION

Pender school board plans to appoint member

Cammie Bellamy StarNews Staff
Kenneth Keith, shown here in a 2006 StarNews photo taken at a Pender High School celebration for the softball team, is being considered to fill a vacancy on the Pender County Schools board. Keith is a former assistant prinicpal at Pender High and Topsail High. [STARNEWS FILE PHOTO]

BURGAW -- The Pender County Schools board is considering a former assistant principal to fill a vacant board seat through November.

The board of education will vote Friday on whether to appoint Kenneth Keith to it's District Four seat, according to a news release. For 28 years that seat was held by school board member Katherine Herring, who died this month. District Four covers the western part of the county, from Canetuck to Penderlea and Watha.

Keith is a former assistant principal at Pender High School and Topsail High School, and started the district's first alternative school program in 1989. Keith also served for 16 years as a family court counselor in the Fifth Judicial District, according to the release.

“Ms. Katherine Herring was on the board a long time; I can’t say that I can replace her,” the release quoted Keith. “I will give my best effort to fill out the term to the best of my ability putting children first.”

If approved, Keith's appointment would last through November, when an election will be held for the District Four seat. Democrat June Robbins and Republican Ken Smith are vying for the position.

Reporter Cammie Bellamy can be reached at 910-343-2339 or Cammie.Bellamy@StarNewsOnline.com.

Want to go?

WHAT: Special meeting of the Pender County Board of Education

WHEN: 4 p.m., July 20

WHERE: Cobb Resource Center, 798 U.S. 117, Burgaw