FLORENCE, Ala. — At a called meeting on Thursday, February 15, The Florence City Board of Education nominated and approved a new board member who will fill the vacant District 5 seat. The late Mrs. Laura Hardeman represented District 5 until her passing in January.

After weeks of reviewing submissions from interested individuals, the board met, and District 6 Board Member Dr. Rachel Winston nominated Tammie Haddock; the board voted unanimously to approve her.

"I'd like to add that I was really impressed with the candidates that submitted their application," Winston said in an interview with Times Daily's Alyssa Sutherland. "Several folks were willing to take up the torch for Laura Hardeman and would have been good board members."

A Falcon parent, Haddock has maintained active involvement in the district, such as serving with the PTO. She has also served with the Florence Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises funds throughout the year to provide classroom grants for Florence City Schools teachers.

Haddock will step into the District 5 role beginning March 12 at the next regularly scheduled board meeting; she will serve the remainder of Hardeman's term, which ends in November 2025.