The Manning Times invited candidates in local and state races to participate in a question-and-answer feature addressing their backgrounds, qualifications, priorities and positions on issues affecting our communities.
Candidates seeking the same office received identical questions, allowing readers to compare their responses on the same topics. Questions were tailored to the responsibilities of each office, with some addressing recent developments covered by The Manning Times. The Q&As are organized by race, with candidates listed alphabetically by last name within each race.
Candidates were asked to limit their responses to approximately 100 to 150 words per question and were offered the option of participating through a phone or in-person interview. Candidates seeking the same office received identical response guidelines. Answers are published as submitted, with only minor edits for grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, space and AP style. Response lengths vary according to the information provided by each candidate.
All candidates were given the same deadline to participate, which was subsequently extended to 10 p.m. Oct. 19 to allow additional time for responses.
Jessie J. Cave
Tell voters about yourself, including your background, professional experience, community involvement and what motivated you to seek or continue serving on the Clarendon County School District Board of Trustees. What experience would you bring to representing your district?
I am Jessie J. Cave, a proud 2014 graduate of East Clarendon Middle High School, a health care professional with over 12 years of experience, and a proud uncle to more than six nieces and nephews. Clarendon County raised me, and now I want to give back to the community that helped shape me.
My professional background includes health care administration, staffing coordination, human resources and social services. These roles have strengthened my skills in leadership, budgeting, employee relations, problem-solving and accountability. I am also actively involved in community service, civic engagement and youth leadership.
My greatest motivation is ensuring that my nieces, nephews and every child in Clarendon County have access to quality educational opportunities. I bring practical leadership experience, a commitment to service and a willingness to listen, ask difficult questions and put students first.
What do you believe are the three most pressing challenges facing Clarendon County School District, and what specific steps would you support to address them during your term?
I believe Clarendon County School District faces three pressing challenges: academic achievement, teacher recruitment and retention, and preparing students for life after graduation.
First, we must prioritize literacy. Students who struggle with reading often face challenges across other subjects. I support early intervention, targeted tutoring and measurable academic improvement plans.
Second, we must support our teachers and staff. Competitive compensation, professional development, manageable workloads and stronger communication are essential to retaining qualified educators.
Third, we must expand opportunities beyond traditional academics. I support strengthening career and technical education, college readiness, apprenticeships and partnerships with local businesses and technical colleges.
Every student deserves a pathway to success, whether that leads to college, the military, a skilled trade or employment. Our responsibility is to ensure students graduate prepared, confident and equipped for their futures.
What are the most significant needs or concerns facing students, families and schools in District 8, and how would you ensure those concerns are represented in decisions affecting the school district as a whole?
District 8 is home to me. I attended Walker Gamble Elementary School and graduated from East Clarendon Middle High School. I understand the pride our communities have in their schools and the importance of ensuring rural families are not overlooked.
Our most significant needs include equitable educational resources, reliable transportation, stronger parent-school communication and expanded opportunities for students.
I believe families should have a voice in decisions affecting their children's education. As a board member, I would support community listening sessions, regular school visits and consistent communication with parents, educators and residents.
I would also advocate for fair resource allocation across the district while recognizing the unique needs of District 8.
Representation means more than holding a seat. It means being present, listening carefully, following up on concerns and ensuring our communities are heard.
The district's 2026 school report cards showed improvements at some schools, while others experienced declines. What do you believe the results reveal about the district's academic progress? How should the board evaluate the effectiveness of academic interventions, tutoring and other support programs, and what changes would you support to improve student achievement in areas where performance continues to lag?
The 2026 school report cards, showing improvements at some schools and declines at others, remind us that academic progress must be evaluated school by school. We should celebrate improvement while remaining honest about areas needing additional attention.
I believe literacy must remain a priority because reading proficiency directly influences success across subjects. I support early intervention, targeted tutoring and additional instructional support for struggling students.
The board should evaluate programs through measurable outcomes, including student growth, reading and mathematics proficiency, attendance and graduation readiness.
We must also identify successful strategies at improving schools and determine whether they can benefit others.
Our goal should never be simply implementing more programs. It should be ensuring existing programs produce meaningful results. Every child deserves an opportunity to succeed academically, regardless of which school they attend.
Maintaining safe learning environments, addressing student behavior and improving attendance are important responsibilities for school districts. What do you see as the greatest challenges in these areas, and what specific policies, programs or resources would you support to ensure students and employees feel safe while keeping students engaged and in school?
Every student and employee deserves a safe, respectful learning environment. I believe our greatest challenge is maintaining accountability while understanding the underlying causes of student behavior and absenteeism.
Not every behavioral issue is simply defiance. Students may be experiencing academic frustration, bullying, emotional challenges or difficulties at home.
I support consistent disciplinary policies, stronger anti-bullying initiatives, access to counselors and mentorship programs connecting students with positive role models.
I also believe alternatives to repeated out-of-school suspensions should be considered when appropriate, allowing students to remain engaged academically while addressing behavioral concerns.
Improving attendance requires identifying barriers early, strengthening communication with families and providing appropriate interventions.
Safety, discipline and compassion can coexist. Our responsibility is to protect students and employees while creating an environment where children feel supported, valued and motivated to attend school.
Recruiting and retaining qualified teachers and staff remains an important issue for school districts, particularly in rural communities. What steps would you support to improve employee retention, strengthen morale and ensure students have access to qualified educators?
My experience in health care staffing and human resources has taught me that employee retention begins with respect, communication and a supportive workplace culture.
Teachers and support staff are the foundation of student success. When employees feel undervalued, overwhelmed or unsupported, morale and retention suffer.
I would advocate for competitive compensation within available resources, meaningful professional development, mentorship for new teachers and opportunities for employees to provide feedback.
I also support partnerships with colleges and universities to recruit future educators, particularly local graduates interested in returning to serve their communities.
We must recognize that bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, instructional assistants and administrative staff are equally important to school operations.
If we want students to succeed, we must invest in the people responsible for educating, transporting, feeding and supporting them every day.
The school board is responsible for developing and overseeing the district's budget while balancing academic needs, staffing, facilities and other operating expenses. What would be your spending priorities, and how would you ensure taxpayer dollars are being used effectively and transparently?
I believe every taxpayer dollar should be spent responsibly, transparently and with student success as the priority.
My spending priorities would include classroom instruction, literacy programs, teacher and staff retention, student safety, reliable transportation and maintaining safe school facilities.
My health care administration experience has taught me the importance of balancing limited resources while maintaining quality services. Before approving major expenditures, I would ask how the investment benefits students, whether alternatives exist and how results will be measured.
I support regular financial reporting, independent audits, accessible budget presentations and clear explanations of major spending decisions.
I would also encourage pursuing grants and outside funding opportunities that align with district priorities.
Fiscal responsibility does not mean avoiding necessary investments. It means ensuring expenditures are justified, resources are distributed fairly and the public understands how its money is being used.
Clarendon County School District serves communities across a large geographic area, with schools facing differing facility and transportation needs. What do you believe are the district's most pressing infrastructure and transportation challenges, and what specific improvements would you prioritize to address them?
Clarendon County's rural geography presents challenges involving transportation, aging facilities and equitable access to educational resources.
I believe students deserve safe, comfortable and properly equipped schools regardless of where they live.
I would support comprehensive facility assessments and a long-term improvement plan prioritizing critical maintenance, reliable heating and cooling systems, classroom technology and student safety.
Transportation is equally important. Long bus routes, vehicle reliability and driver availability can affect attendance and students' daily experiences.
I would advocate for reviewing transportation efficiency, bus maintenance, staffing needs and communication procedures when delays occur.
Infrastructure improvements should be based on documented needs, safety concerns and available funding rather than political influence.
Our schools should reflect the value we place on education. Every student deserves a learning environment that is safe, dependable and equipped to support academic success.
How would you improve communication between the school board, parents, employees and the public? What steps would you support to make board decisions more transparent and ensure residents have meaningful opportunities to raise concerns and receive responses?
One of my campaign priorities is partnering with parents because families should be active participants in their children's education.
I believe communication between the school board, parents, employees and community members must be consistent, accessible and transparent.
I would support timely publication of board agendas, clear explanations of major decisions, accessible meeting information and regular opportunities for public input.
I also believe community listening sessions should be held throughout the district, allowing rural families to participate without unnecessary travel barriers.
Parents and employees deserve a clear process for raising concerns and receiving appropriate follow-up while respecting confidentiality and established procedures.
Transparency builds trust, and trust strengthens our schools.
My campaign motto is "Leadership That Listens. Service That Shows Up." I intend to demonstrate those principles by remaining accessible, listening respectfully and ensuring community voices are considered in district decisions.
School board members may have differing opinions about district policies, spending and leadership decisions. How would you work with fellow board members when disagreements arise, and how would you balance supporting district leadership with holding the superintendent and administration accountable for results?
Effective school board leadership requires professionalism, collaboration and accountability. I understand that board members will not always agree, but disagreements should never distract from our responsibility to students.
My professional experience has taught me to work with individuals who have different perspectives while remaining focused on shared goals.
I would approach disagreements respectfully, examine available facts and make decisions based on student outcomes rather than personalities or politics.
I believe the superintendent should have the support and resources necessary to lead effectively, while the board maintains appropriate oversight.
That includes establishing measurable goals, reviewing academic and financial performance, and conducting meaningful superintendent evaluations.
Accountability should be fair, consistent and focused on improvement.
A successful board does not require unanimous opinions. It requires members willing to listen, ask difficult questions, work together and put students first.
