Joye Kelley spent 29 years trying to make the Rogers School District all it could be. As her tenure as a member of the district’s Board of Education comes to an end later this year, we can say she accomplished that goal.
Kelley, who has been a School Board member since 1983 and became its president in 1992, played a fundamental role in guiding Rogers schools through unprecedented and explosive growth, dramatic demographic changes in enrollment, the addition of a second high school, significant shifts in educational approaches and the hiring of two superintendents. She did so eff ectively by putting students first and dealing honestly and openly with parents and patrons.
She was also a champion for arts education - a too-often neglected academic discipline, especially during tough economic times. Finally, Kelley off ered appropriatesupport for athletics, but also provided much needed perspective by keeping academics and student achievement at the top of the district’s priorities.
We wouldn’t necessarily be surprised if some reading this weren’t familiar with Kelley and her stellar record of public service. There’s been precious little controversy regarding Rogers schools during her tenure, for which she and her fellow board members (not to mention faculty and staff ) deserve credit.
So, it was not out of character for Kelley to make it known in a quiet manner that she wouldn’t seek re-election. During Tuesday’s board meeting, she mentioned it as an aside while making an announcement about the fall school board elections.
Joye Kelley’s exit, however, deserves more notice than that. The community owes her a great debt of gratitude for a job well done. We’re happy to be among the first to make a payment on that debt.
WANTED: INDEPENDENT THINKERS The Fayetteville City Council will get several new faces next year.
Of the four aldermen (there are eight total) whose terms expire this year, three have said they will not seek re-election. The fourth, Matthew Petty, has said he will run again this year.
The latest one to make his plans known is Bobby Ferrell, who said last week he will call it quits after eight years on the council.
We’ll miss him. Ferrell, a Ward 3 alderman, brought valuable perspective to the council.
Ferrell will perhaps be best remembered for his consistent conservatism. This often has left him at odds with his fellow aldermen.
Besides his conservative viewpoint, you also can count on Ferrell taking a thoughtful approach to the issues and studying them at length. When questions need to be raised, he frequently is the one to raise them. He is not shy about expressing his opinions;
better yet, he is skilled at articulating them so as to make people understand his views.
You might not always agree with him; we haven’t either. But at least you’re likely to know why he votes the way he does, and if he goes against the council’s majority opinion, he isn’t doing it just to be diftcult or to play partisan politics.
We’re not just praising independence in voting.
The term “thinker” is a necessary component. We see far too much independence for independence sake. We appreciate elected oft cials who can articulate a perspective, not just dig in their heels and say “I’m agin’ it.”
Legislative bodies - city councils included - need a mix of opinions so that they do not get bogged down in “group think.” We hope new aldermen elected this year, whoever they are, will be independent thinkers, much like Ferrell has proven to be.
Mike Jones, Local Editor Dave Perozek, Opinion Page Editor
Opinion, Pages 5 on 06/23/2012