- Hanks selected to serve as president of school board
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SCHOOL BOARD SWEAR IN •Tracy Olsen and Linda Hanks took the oath of office administered by Darin Clark, business administrator for the Juab School District on Wednesday evening. Inset Darin Clark was sworn in by Dale Whitlock, outgoing board president. Story on page 2.
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Tracy Olsen and Linda Hanks took the oath of office administered by Darin Clark, business administrator for the Juab School District on Wednesday evening.
Following the swearing-in of Clark, district business administrator; the administration of the oath of office to the two re-elected board members, Olsen and Hanks; and the presentation of the monthly recognition of excellence awards, the board of education re-organized it's leadership.
"This takes place every two years," said Dale Whitlock, board president. "I appreciate the opportunity that I have had to serve for the past four years as board president."
However, he said, it was time for a change.
Whitlock then nominated Linda Hanks to serve as board president.
"I wouldn't have nominated her without talking to her first," said Whitlock. "She has agreed to serve."
The voting for Hanks was unanimous.
Mary Nielson was then nominated and elected to replace Hanks as board vice president.
"I have appreciated Dale's leadership as board president," said Dr. Rick Robins, superintendent. "I would like to offer a sincere thank you to Dale for his dedicated service as board president over the past four years."
When he had been appointed superintendent, said Robins, he had found Whitlock to be most helpful.
"Congratulations to Linda and Mary on their new positions," said Robins.
Whitlock was also recently elected to serve another term as a member of the UHSAA (Utah High School Activities Association) board of trustees, said Robins.
Whitlock has been president of the board since January 2011.
Following the elections, he and Hanks switched seats and Hanks conducted the rest of the meeting.
Whitlock said it was healthy for the board and for the community to alternate the position of board president.
This is Hanks' second term on the board as representative from District 5. Olsen was re-elected to the board in November, representing District 4. This is his third term. He has served eight years.
He is the business administrator for the Nebo School District and Hanks is a teacher in that district also.
For many years, it was the tradition that the senior member of the board served as board president.
However, four years ago, the board discussed the position of president and decided that it would be wise to change the make up of the board by rotating the office of president of the board and by holding the elections every two years.
"Because of our reorganization, we will need to make some adjustments in the committees that we serve on," said Nielson.
The board president, by reason of that office, serves on the district negotiation team. Hanks will now take her place on that team and Olsen will continue to serve as a member of the team.
Hanks and Allred will continue on the curriculum committee; Whitlock and Nielsen will serve on the capital expenditure and maintenance committee and Whitlock and Allred will be on the Ring of Honor committee.
In terms of seniority on the board, the following, in order, are: Tracy Olsen, senior member; Dale Whitlock, second; Linda Hanks, third; Mary Nielson, fourth; and Alicen Allred, fifth.
"The board president mostly presides at and conducts meetings," said Whitlock.
In addition to those duties, the president opens the meeting, announces the order of business, decides questions of order, sees that all minutes of the meetings are recorded, approved, and signed, recognizes members who wish to speak, has the right to offer resolutions, discuss questions, and vote and declares the meeting adjourned.
The board president also performs other duties as specified by state statutes and requested by the board and signs all documents as required on behalf of the board.
The school board is charged with the responsibility of establishing and maintaining a basic organizational structure for the local school system, develop curriculum, meet federal and state mandates for public schools, appoint a superintendent, business administrator and key members of the central office staff, adopt an annual budget, create a climate that promotes educational excellence and initiate educational policies at the local level.
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