22 Feb Merchant named to school board

Published in the Delta Democrat Times

Sarah Kramer

GREENVILLE — The Greenville City Council appointed Kimberly Merchant to the five-member Greenville Public School District Board of Trustees during their meeting Tuesday.

Members voted 4-2, with Ward 3 Councilwoman Carolyn Weathers and Ward 5 Councilwoman Ann Hollowell voting to keep Jerry Hafter on the board.

Merchant, who will begin her five-year term on March 1, said she’s honored to be a part of the board and plans to continue to support the public school system in order to move the district forward.

“I’m very excited to be a part of the change in the school district, which is, in essence, a change in our community,” she said. “It’s important for us to focus on our public schools because that’ll help our economic development.”

Hafter, whose term expires Feb. 28, said he’s pleased to have served 24 years on the board.

“We are a fully accredited school district … with good education, good administrators and on the whole, good children,” he said. “I would have liked to continue to serve on the board, but Kimberly is as good a person to serve.”

GPSD Superintendent Leeson Taylor II said he appreciates all Hafter has done in his more than two decades as a trustee, but knows Merchant will be an asset to the board.

“We look forward to working with Mr. Hafter in other capacities moving forward,” he said. “I look forward to working with (Merchant) and the other trustees as we continue to do what’s in the best interest of the children.”