Anthony Spearman was selected as the person to fill the open position in the Hickory Public Schools’ Ward 3 board of education seat by the other board members.
Spearman is the pastor of Clinton Tabernacle AME Zion Church in Hickory. He took the oath of office at the board meeting Monday night, along with Margaret Pope, Amy Monroe and Charlotte Williams. The three women were elected during the November election for Wards 4, 6 and the at-large seat, respectively. Pope was previously appointed to fill Vanessa Linebarger’s seat when she stepped down from the board earlier this year. This will be Williams’ second term on the board.
Spearman was sworn in at Monday’s meeting with several close friends. His wife, Janice, held the Bible while his godson, Caleb Tiggett and a child who attended his church’s summer camp, Daniael True, stood close by.
Spearman is filling the seat of Gloria Hemphill, who decided to step down from the board mid-term after deciding she no longer had the time needed to be as active as the position required. She served on the board since August 1997, and was the vice-chairwoman when she stepped down Monday. Spearman will serve the remaining two years of Hemphill’s term.
Monday was also the last board meeting for Joab Cotton, the board chairman. He served on the board for 16 years. Monroe was elected to his seat.
Cotton and Hemphill saw Hickory Public Schools through three long-term and two interim superintendents, implementing the International Baccalaureate program and thoroughly researched and created the dress code at the two high schools.
“They epitomize what it is to be a good board member,” said Sarah Talbert, the previous school board chairwoman who was at Monday’s meeting.
Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins called the evening bittersweet because he was saying goodbye to two people who served the board well, but a close friend was joining the board.
March 2, 2012, is Read Across America Day. In honor of Hemphill’s advocacy of literacy, Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright declared it Gloria Hemphill Day, and proclaimed Dec. 5, 2011, as Joab Cotton Day.
During the meeting, Cotton was also awarded the Old North State Award, which is given by the state governor.
Hemphill had a few words of advice for the remaining board members before she stepped down.
“If you remember to do and base your decisions on the kids, you’ll do fine,” she said.
Cotton challenged the new members to come on the board with no agendas.
After the new members were sworn in, current board member Angela Beaver Simmons was elected chairwoman and Reggie Hamilton was elected vice-chairman, both by unanimous votes.
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