The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District is now down a member following this week’s resignation of assistant secretary Melissa Luckett.
Luckett had served on the school board for slightly less than a year after being appointed by the Starkville Board of Aldermen last February.
Luckett was chosen over current school board member Debra Prince by a tie-breaking vote from former Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman. She filled the seat left vacant by Jenny Turner after the end of her term.
Luckett told the SDN she was stepping down after a move outside of the Starkville city limits.
“Because of my family's move outside of the Starkville corporate limits, I am no longer eligible to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Starkville Oktibbeha School District,” Luckett said. “This was a very difficult decision for me because I have enjoyed my service with the board and district administrators. However, I look forward to supporting the district and being involved in one way or another in the future.”
Luckett’s seat was one of three appointed by the Board of Aldermen, with the remaining two elected by Oktibbeha County.
Luckett has long been involved with the district as a parent, serving on the Armstrong Middle School PTA and as co-president of the Sudduth Elementary School PTO. She has two sons enrolled in the district.
Luckett is employed as a project manager at the Mississippi State University Research and Curriculum Unit.
Vice Mayor Roy A’. Perkins said the city intends to fill the now-vacant seat at one of its two April Board of Aldermen meetings.
The board discussed the matter in its work session Friday afternoon and plans to take action on receiving letters from citizens interested in the seat.
However, Perkins emphasized no action is taken in work sessions.
“The board has decided to take up the matter on Tuesday night of seeking letters of interest from persons who are interested and who are qualified to serve as a member in the vacant position, the seat that Mrs. Luckett previously held,” Perkins said.
Perkins said the board had discussed allowing letters to be submitted at least until March 28.
Luckett’s seat will not be the only seat on the school board left vacant this year.
School Board President Keith Coble said he did not intend to run again for his seat, which will be up for election this November.
The board voted 4-0, with Coble recused to allow him to serve until December, since his current term was set to expire in early March.
Coble was elected to serve the added territory prior to consolidation.