Jenks Board Set for Another Year
By KELSY LORIN TAYLOR
Web Editor and Feature Writer
HELPING OTHERS: Members of the Jenks Board of Education enjoy reaching out to students and families in the district. From left, Jon Phillips, Anne McCoy, Ron Barber and Chuck Forbes. Not pictured is Joe Hidy.
KELSY LORIN TAYLOR for GTR Newspapers
Members of the Jenks Board of Education bring the district together by ensuring communication, analyzing decisions and providing responsible leadership. This year brings the promise of continued support to the school district through the dedication of the board members. With the February reelection of Chuck Forbes, the board is set for another year.
Board members are elected by registered voters of their respective districts for five-year terms and receive no pay for performing their duties. School board elections are held monthly, with one board position open for election each year. Only those registered voters living within the geographical boundaries of the board district in which a term is expiring or in which a vacancy exists are eligible to vote for that board position.
Elected in 2004, President of the Jenks Board of Education and Ward 1 Representative Anne McCoy has enjoyed serving the community through her position.
“As a woman and mother, I bring a very important perspective to the board, a perspective that is critical to such leadership positions. I want children to be well educated in our schools and I also have a strong desire to see our students experience a positive, safe, healthy and empowering environment within the school system.”
Having provided therapy for children with special needs in the past, McCoy feels she has a good understanding of the educational needs of students with disabilities.
In her spare time, McCoy enjoys providing therapy services at The Little Light House and serves on the ministry board. “I am also involved in serving the district through the Construction Committee, a very active committee dealing with bond monies and also with the Baldrige Strategy Development Committee focused on improving quality education in the district.”
Jon Phillips was elected to the Jenks Board of Education in 2007 as the representative of Ward 2. “I was persuaded to run by people that I went to Jenks High School with. It felt like the right decision. I wanted to contribute back to the school that had done so much for me, plus I have three kids that attend Jenks Public Schools.”
He explains that the Jenks Board of Education is an important part of the community as a whole. “Members of the board of education should be important to the community because they elect us and we represent them. Schools are one of the top reasons people locate where they do. Even if people do not have kids in the Jenks system they should take notice of what we are doing, it does affect their property values.”
Phillips feels that getting to see the results of the board’s efforts is one of the best rewards of his involvement. He continues, “We get exposed to so many great examples of student achievement in academics, athletics, arts and other activities. The kids are priceless.”
Joe Hidy was elected to the Jenks Board of Education in 2008 and his term will expire in 2013. He currently represents Ward 3. “Not only do you represent the patrons of the district in insuring that the decisions that are made are the best for the children but also the best for the community and district.”
He enjoys working closely with staff, faculty and administrators and believes that they are “true professionals who constantly strive to improve every facet of our educational process.”
Representative of Ward 4, Ron Barber was elected to the board in 2009. He is currently a member of the Administration’s Construction Committee, which has been very active with the recent passage of a $100 million bond issue.
Having children attend Jenks Public Schools continuously for 22 years, Barber was enthusiastic to become a member of the board of education. “My family has benefited greatly from the quality education provided by the Jenks School District over the years and I decided that it was time to give something back to the district.”
“It is so exciting to see the quality and commitment of the staff and administration of this district. They go above and beyond the call of duty almost on a daily basis.”
Chuck Forbes represents Ward 5 on the Jenks Board of Education. With a previous term expiring this year, he was up for re-election. He was re-elected with 62 percent of the vote. Forbes was also unavailable for comment.
Updated 03-24-2010
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