By Rupert Howell
Three of five North Panola School’s trustee districts have challenging candidates while two districts have unopposed candidates. South Panola School District has one trustee position District One, up for election, but no only one qualifyer. School board posts are non-partisan and qualifying deadline was last Friday.

North Panola Trustee District Two includes candidates Cecil Gene Dowden, Verna Lasha Hunter and Dietrick Johnson.

District Four includes candidates Patsy Jackson and Patricia Wright Lamar facing each other while District Five candidates are Trosiki Pettis and Mary G. “Kay” Wolfe.

District One candidate Deborah Armstrong Tucker and District Three candidate Chris Fairlee are unopposed.

North Panola School Board was disbanded during the current state takeover. Election of a new board is part of the district resuming local control following accreditation. Elections will be held in conjunction with the General Election Tuesday, November 5.

Jerry Cooley is the lone South Panola School District candidate running for re-election for his Trustee District One post.

School trustee position are usually elected for five-year terms with one position becoming open each year.

Candidates for the North Panola post are running for staggered terms whose lengths correspond with their trustee post such as Trustee Position Two’s term will be for two years and that position will be up for election again.

Conservator Robert King explained regulations for a district being re-accredited were spelled out by recent legislation.

New trustees will take oaths of office in January.