Beck picked to lead Columbus County Schools
Superintendent elect Eddie Beck. (Deuce Niven, TLT)
By DEUCE NIVEN
tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com
Just 10 months after being named assistant superintendent for the Columbus County Schools, Jesse E. “Eddie” Beck, II take the district’s top post effective July 1.
Beck was named to succeed Dr. Deanne Meadows as superintendent upon her retirement, effective June 30, the end of the current fiscal year. Dr. Meadows announced her retirement in March, and served the district as superintendent for five years.
Beck was named assistant superintendent last August, filling the vacancy left by Dr. Jonathan Williams, who was named superintendent of the Whiteville City Schools. Beck has been employed by the Columbus County Schools for 28 years, his entire career.
Beck will lead the district with 12 schools and about 5,000 students.
‘Excellent candidates’
A committee that included all five school board members and four principals from across the county interviewed four finalists for the job Friday, board member Steve Long said. Long chaired Monday’s meeting in the physical absence of Ronnie Strickland, who attended by phone.
Of the principals, Long said, “We took their input very seriously.”
“This was a collaborative effort,” board member Chris Worley said. “It wasn’t something the board took lightly.”
Beck’s wife Kelly, principal at West Columbus School, was not on that panel, she said after the meeting.
“We had four excellent candidates,” Strickland said.
“I think we had a good field to pick from,” Long said.
Board member Randy Coleman, whose motion to pick Beck won a quick second from Irvin Enzor, said “we had four great candidates.
“A lot of prayer and thought went into it,” Coleman said of the decision.
‘Humbled’
“I am humbled by the board’s decision,” Beck said, then turning to Meadows thanked her for her guidance and support. “I wish her the very best in retirement.
“To the faculty and staff, to the parents and stakeholders, I want to say we will work diligently to insure every student meets their potential.”
Look for more on this story and the rest of the week’s news in the May 22 Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.
