New school board members sworn into office

Two new Lenoir County Board of Education members - Billy Davis and Rita Hodges - were sworn into office Monday.

Davis and Hodges, both Democrats, were elected on Nov. 4 to serve on the school board for the next four years. The two new members also have something in common more than just their political party affiliations.

Davis and Hodges are retired Lenoir County Schools employees. Davis was head of the school district's plumbing department while Hodges spent time working at the school district's central office. She was later assigned as a grant-writer for Lenoir County Schools.

Hodges will serve District 3 while Davis will represent an at-large seat. Hodges defeated former school board chairwoman Connie Mintz in the May primary to advance to the general election.

Incumbent school board members Bruce Hill and Garland Nobles were also sworn into office during a Monday night meeting. Both Democrats, Hill will also serve an at-large district while Nobles will serve District 4 on the Lenoir County Board of Education.

Lenoir County Schools Superintendent Terry Cline welcomed both Davis and Hodges to the new board, presenting them both with appreciative pens.

Once the elected and re-elected members were sworn into office, the board elected school board member David Fillippeli Jr. as its new chairman and school board member Joey Bryan as its new vice-chairman. Each chairman position is for one year.