School board divides by race

LUMBERTON — When it comes to hiring employees in the Public Schools of Robeson County, race can trump qualifications, according to some members of the Board of Education.

That issue was raised Tuesday night when longtime school board member John Campbell, who is black, accused fellow board members of making hiring decisions based entirely on race.

“I’ve been a board member for 26 years and at my first board meeting hiring by race was an issue,” said Mike Smith, a white board member. “It’s not my desire that this be an issue, but it is an issue now, it’s been an issue in the past, and it will be an issue in the future.”

https://robesonian.com/news/91909/school-board-divides-by-race