Lawrence school board members take oaths, elect president and vice president

New members of Lawrence's school board were sworn in Wednesday, July 1, 2015. The board now consists of, from left, Shannon Kimball, Rick Ingram, Kris Adair, Vanessa Sanburn, Jill Fincher and Marcel Harmon. Newly elected member Jessica Beeson attended Wednesday's meeting via phone.

As Lawrence’s new school board members took their oaths Wednesday morning, the group also elected this year’s president and vice president.

The district’s governing body now consists of Vanessa Sanburn, Marcel Harmon, Kris Adair, Jessica Beeson, Jill Fincher, Rick Ingram and Shannon Kimball.

Newcomers Beeson and Fincher were elected to the board in April alongside incumbents Kimball, Ingram and Harmon. Randy Masten and Bob Byers were replaced by the two newest members.

After a call to order, Sanburn and Harmon were unanimously elected by the board to serve as president and vice president, respectively.

Starting her seventh year on the board and her second time as board president, Sanburn said she is looking forward to the new year and seeing the results of a $92.5 million bond issue approved by voters in April of 2013.

“I think we’re going to have a whole lot of ribbon-cutting ceremonies and a whole lot of new facilities opening from the bond and the work that’s getting complete,” she said. “The College and Career Center is going to be open in August, and that’s going to be a completely new thing in our community that I’m really proud was part of that bond.”

Now the board’s vice president, Harmon said he also is eager to see the College and Career Center open, along with other projects funded by the bond.

“We have three or four schools opening back up this year, including Cordley and New York elementaries, with a couple of major improvements,” he said.

While there are many things to look forward to, state budgetary issues continue to be a concern for the upcoming year, Harmon said.

Wednesday’s meeting marked the first of the district’s fiscal year. A final budget is to be approved in August.

“We’re moving forward as if the block grant is fully funded,” he said. “But we may have to make some sort of budget adjustments. At this point it’s kind of a big unknown.”

Newcomer Jill Fincher said she has previous experience with the district as a parent and from serving on several area boards.

Now, as a part of the school board, Fincher said she hopes to make a positive impact on the district.

“I think there is a lot to learn about the district from this aspect,” she said. “And I’m excited to hopefully help.”