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Date set for special election to fill seat on board
Effingham County Schools

SPRINGFIELD — During its Sept. 12 meeting, the Effingham County Board of Education set March 24, 2020, as the date for a special election.

The need for the election was forced by the July 16 resignation of Beth Helmly, the District 4 representative. Helmly surrendered her seat so that her daughter, Katy Whitten, could become an assistant principal at Effingham County High School. 

A state law enacted in 2009 prohibits school board members and superintendents from having immediate family members in high-ranking positions in the districts they serve.

Ben Johnson was appointed to fill the seat on an interim basis last month. Helmly defeated Johnson in a race for a four-year term in 2018.

In other action, Superintendent Dr. Randy Shearouse said that Pope Construction has been notified that will be used as the construction manager for the addition of 12 classrooms at South Effingham Elementary School.

“We need to roll on that because the fall of 2020 will be here before you know it,” Shearouse said.

The board also opted not to force students and teachers to make up the two days lost earlier this month to Hurricane Dorian.