The first item of business during the July 2 Tucker County Board of Education meeting was the swearing in of the new board members and superintendent.
County Clerk Sherry Simmons swore in Chris Gross, Cathy Hebb, and Jessica Wamsley as the newly elected Board of Education members. “I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office, Board of Education Board Member, to the best of my skill and judgment, so help me God,” the new members repeated after Simmons.
Simmons also swore in Alicia Lambert to her new position as superintendent. Later in the meeting, Neil “Steelie” Kisamore was hired as the new principal of Davis Thomas Elementary Middle School, the position vacated by Lambert.
“I am thrilled that he is going to be taking over for me at Davis Thomas,” Lambert said. “I think that he is going to be a great fit.”
Board of Education positions decided during the meeting. Board Member Daniel “Chopper” Evans nominated Tim Turner as Board President. There were no other nominations, and thus, Turner was reappointed as president. His term will last two years, starting July 2 and ending June 30, 2020.
Next, a vice president was selected. Turner nominated Evans, and Evans was appointed as vice president of the board. The term of the vice president is the same as the president.
Committee assignments were decided as well. The board’s committees include Partner in Education, Safety, and Tucker County Extension Service.
As the new board members sat through their first meeting, President Turner was more explicit than usual in his explanations of the meeting’s processes.
Additional employment business included the hiring of Anthony McDaniels as a counselor at the high school and Tina Carr as the Tucker Valley art teacher.
All the student transfers were approved. The approvals were students coming into the county’s school system.
The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 16 at 4:30 p.m. at the Board of Education office.
