LUMBERTON — Two newcomers, a former board member and two incumbents will take their seats on the Public Schools of Robeson County Board of Education when the board holds its regular monthly meeting tonight.

Newcomers to be sworn in at the meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at the school administration building on Caton Road, are Randy Lawson and Gary C. Strickland Jr.

Lawson is employed by Lowe’s Home Improvement in Lumberton. He will serve as an at-large member, filling the seat that has been held by Jerry Long, a longtime educator who did not win re-election after a single term

Strickland is a bank loan officer and has been an active school system volunteer for several years. He will represent District 5 and replaces incumbent Randall Jones, who did not seek re- election after eight years on the board .

The returning board member, Mitchell “Bosco” Locklear, will represent District 4. He replaces longtime board member Robert Deese, who did not seek re-election in May.

Locklear is currently the housing director for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. He served on the school board from 1996 to 2004.

Incumbents beginning new terms are at-large members JoAnn Chavis Lowery, the board’s current chairman, and John Campbell, a 16-year board veteran.

Board members will be sworn in by Renae O. Hunt, clerk of Robeson County Superior Court. The board chairman and vice chairman for the coming year will then be elected.

In other business, the board will:

n Be updated on alignment of curriculum reform initiatives.

n Hear about Lumberton High School’s digital conversion.

n Discuss the district’s upcoming back-to-school celebration.

n Receive a budget update.

Reach staff writer Bob Shiles at 910-272-6117 or bshiles@heartlandpublications.com.