On March 7, the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District held a reception for departing school board president Jenny Turner.
Turner had served five years on the board, and announced on Feb. 1 that she would not seek reappointment.
“My son will graduate in May, so I felt that was a good time for me to end my service,” said Turner, who’s daughter graduated from Starkville High School in 2014.
Turner said she originally decided to apply for the board seat in 2012, because she felt her experience as a volunteer and PTA member would be valuable. She the two biggest accomplishments of her board were consolidation and the ongoing $27.5 million Starkville/Mississippi State University Partnership School project.
Turner also expressed approval of Melissa Luckett who was appointed by a 4-3 vote of the Starkville Board of Aldermen to succeed her.
“I think she’ll do a very good job on the board,” Turner said. “She’s very dedicated to the students in our district.”
She advised Luckett to listen to the community and have a heart for students.
“I want to say on behalf of her fellow board members, that it has been a true pleasure working with Jenny,” said school board member Keith Coble, who succeeded Turner as board president. “Jenny went to school board training, as we all have to when we went onto the board, learned exactly what a school board member is supposed to be and not supposed to be, and lived by that from that day forward. That’s what we so appreciate.”
Turner said she would miss working closely with other board members and district staff, but planned to stay involved in the community.
“I’m happy I served, but I’m glad to let somebody else have a turn,” Turner said.
Tuner received some gifts from the school board, including a set of stationery with a watercolor print of the Greensboro Center on it.
“It’s a difficult job sometimes, but I think it is also a rewarding job, because it helps the community and our students, and there’s nothing more important that we do. I appreciate everyone coming out. I appreciate our teachers, our staff and our administrators. We are just so lucky that we have so many dedicated people.”