It was good to learn that Barb Waldman is running for re-election to the Irmo Town Council.
I have known her for the past 15 years and have worked with her on a number of town and school district projects. I find her record of excellence in all community endeavors to be unquestionable. Barb’s dedication to the highest quality of life for all who live in Irmo is always evident. My experience with Barb over many years leaves no doubt that she is consistently dependable, honest, and thoughtful about what is best for the Irmo community. She’s fiscally conservative and a person who is an effective fact finder and problem solver when decisions have to be made.
Barb takes her civic responsibilities seriously, especially regarding the impact our schools have on our community. She is currently and has been a member of the School District 5 Parents Advisory Cabinet for the past 13 years. She served for 8 years on the Irmo High School Improvement Council. She is a member of the District Five Education Foundation and has been since 2017, serving on their Allocations Committee and Co-Chair of the Gala Committee. She received the award as Outstanding Volunteer of the Year for our school district in 2015. She also served on the School Improvement Councils for Harbison West, Cross Roads and Irmo Middle Schools. She has been active in these schools’ Parent Teacher Organizations. She dedicated her professional career to teaching and research at the University of South Carolina for 27 years before retiring. Barb Waldman earned a PhD at John Hopkins University.
Schools are a major reason that families move to the Irmo area. Those families who come for the schools contribute to stable, safe, invested neighborhoods. They are responsible tax payers who value what the history of this community stands for. Barb Waldman’s consistent involvement with our schools provides a great benefit for all of us, even for those of us who are retired.
She thinks critically and analytically about the problems faced by the town of Irmo, gathers the facts and solicits input from those who would be affected. These skills have benefited the work of the town council during her years of service and her continued membership on the council will continue to do so in the coming years.
Growth and change in Irmo will be a consistent part of our community as it is in every suburb. How those challenges are handled will impact all of us for many years into the future. Barb Waldman’s influence on the Council will continue to add positive value as Irmo is a great place to live.
Mary Kennerly
