It took less than 24 hours for the Columbia Board of Aldermen to appoint a new member of the Columbia school board following the retirement of Donald Hales Tuesday.
The city called a special meeting Wednesday afternoon with District 3 Alderwoman Anna Evans making a motion to appoint Tabitha Nelson, who was unanimously approved.
“I think that Tabitha will do a great job,” Mayor Justin McKenzie said.
Nelson has been a long-time employee of the district attorney’s office, and Evans said she believes Nelson will do a great job.
“I feel the reason Tabitha would be a great person for the Columbia school board is because she’s had children to go through the system — she’s also a grandparent at this time — and she still has connections to the Columbia School District,” she said. “She has dealt with the public and information in the schools. She’s just an awesome person.”
Nelson said Thursday she is excited to join the board and help make a difference.
“I’m going into it with an open mind to do whatever it takes for our schools and for our children,” she said.
Nelson graduated from Columbia High School in 1985, and her dad, Fred Idom Jr., was a guidance counselor at the high school. Nelson’s daughters also graduated from the school in 2007 and 2017.
Hales spent 41 years in education before retiring in 2007, then joined the board in 2014.
“It is obvious you have been such a huge part of the Columbia School District in many ways, starting as a teacher, to an administrator and to a board member,” Superintendent Jason Harris said as he gave Hales a plaque.
Pictured Above: Columbia Superintendent Jason Harris hugs retiring School Board Member Donald Hales Tuesday. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
