Local Republican and Democratic parties publicly censure Cherokee County school board over charter denial

Representatives of both the Cherokee County Republican and Democratic parties delivered formal censure resolutions to the school board during public comment June 8, saying the board’s actions — including a unanimous April 20, 2026 vote to deny a charter application — reflected a failure to place students first.

A speaker identified in the meeting as Miss Blay, who said she is chairman of the Cherokee County Republican Party, read a resolution that “censures the members of the Cherokee County School District board of trustees … for failing to uphold their own state and board policies requiring that the educational welfare of children be the first and foremost concern.” The presentation named the trustees by surname and pointed to the April 20, 2026 8-0 vote to deny a charter-school application as a motivating example.

Washina Fowler White, identified from the Cherokee County Democratic Party, told the board that the Democratic Party issued ‘‘the exact same censure on the exact same day,’’ saying the document is a public reprimand intended to urge greater transparency and accountability.

Board members did not take formal action on the censure during the meeting and made no recorded substantive response to the allegations during the public‑comment period.