Glynn County Board of Education members held a special-called meeting on April 25 to interview two finalists for the interim District 5 school board seat vacated by Ms. Gibbons: Brad Brown and Reggie Jackson. The board did not make an appointment at the session and plans to vote at its next regularly scheduled meeting in May.

The public forum-format interview was organized after the board removed another applicant, Miss Stanfield, from consideration because of a discrepancy with her voter registration. Chair (unnamed) told attendees each candidate would answer the same questions with roughly two minutes per response and that board members would decide at the regular May meeting.

The forum focused on candidates’ backgrounds and priorities. Brad Brown, a candidate for the District 5 interim seat, described his banking and finance background as a principal asset for the board: "I think I have a background, particularly in finance, that could be beneficial, helpful to the board," he said. Brown said he has previously worked with SPLOST and has experience mentoring students and presenting on topics such as personal finance.

Reggie Jackson, also a candidate for the District 5 interim seat, emphasized family engagement and programs that connect school services with community resources. Jackson said his work with families in Brunswick Housing and long experience working with children across socioeconomic backgrounds shaped his priorities: "Every adult that's in the county is a part of the education of our children," Jackson said, urging broader partnerships between schools, businesses and community organizations.

Both candidates identified curricular and extracurricular priorities. Brown said he would like to expand music participation, arguing performing arts support academic skills and life skills. Jackson advocated for stronger performing-arts and STEM opportunities, saying Glynn County can support specialized programs and pointing to local examples of students who went on to advanced study.

On specific policies, both candidates supported limits on classroom cell‑phone use. Brown favored a schoolwide policy that restricts phone access during class and mentioned systems some districts use to lock student devices during school hours. Jackson said phone rules should vary by grade level, with stricter rules for elementary and middle schools and more freedom for high-school students between classes.

Candidates also addressed academic fundamentals. Brown said the district faces post‑COVID learning challenges and called for supporting students to regain lost ground. Jackson stressed a return to basic skills — reading, writing and arithmetic — and local control over education policy as federal and state dynamics change.

The session included a brief procedural action: Chair moved to adjourn at the meeting’s close; board member Vidalas seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned by voice vote. The board’s chair said the full board will take the appointment vote at its regular meeting on the second Tuesday in May; the exact meeting date was not specified in the forum.

No formal appointment or policy action occurred during the forum. Board members and staff present said the board had conducted the process openly and without closed‑door discussions; one speaker noted the vacancy had been unexpected and praised the board’s handling of the selection process.

Next steps: the board will consider the interim appointment at its regular May meeting. Members will use the forum responses and their own deliberations before taking a formal vote.