Luckett sworn in as school board member
After being selected by the Starkville Board of Aldermen in a 4 to 3 vote, Melissa Luckett was sworn in as a member of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees Tuesday night.
Luckett took the oath of office surrounded by her family, and took her seat on the board for her first meeting. Luckett will serve a five-year term and holds one of three seats on the board appointed by the aldermen. She is employed as a project coordinator with the Mississippi State University Research and Curriculum Unit, and has served in various capacities as a volunteer with the district.
Luckett replaces Jenny Turner, who did not seek re-appointment to the board. A small reception was held for Turner prior to the meeting.
“I am honored, and I am looking forward to serving with the school board and getting to serve with other members who have ben dedicated to the school district for a while,” Luckett said. “Right off the bat, tonight has been a good experience, and I’m looking forward to more.”
Luckett added that she was glad she got to take the oath with her family standing by her.
“It was a great moment to have my husband, Paul and my boys there standing with me as I took the oath,” Luckett said. “My youngest actually raised his hand to take the oath with me. I think for them it solidified the importance of service.”
The board also elected its officers, all by unanimous vote. Keith Coble will serve as president. Lee Brand Jr. will serve as vice president. John S. Brown will serve as secretary and Luckett will serve as assistant secretary. Anne Stricklin will serve as board member until the end of the school year.
The board also voted unanimously to open bids for the dirt work for the $27.5 million Starkville/MSU Partnership School Project.
Superintendent Lewis Holloway said the estimated completion date for the partnership school has been moved back from July 2018 to October 2018.
“I don’t know if we can get to a July move-in in 2018,” Holloway said.
Holloway encouraged the board to move students into the school immediately upon its completion.
The board also unanimously approved the classification of wind ensemble and chamber singers as honors courses following a presentation by Starkville High School Principal David Baggett. Starkville High is among the first high schools in the state to make this move.
A $347,000 bid for roofing work at Armstrong Middle School from the Daniels Roofing Company also received unanimous approval.