Luter appointed to Board of Education

Germantown’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen appointed Rebecca Luter to Germantown Municipal School District Board of Education, Position 3. The motion passed unanimously Monday.

Luter is the head pastor at Farmington Presbyterian Church.

Luter said to be chosen at the end of the process was “humbling.”

She has children in GMSD and said she has a vested interest in the district. She hopes her “unique skillset” will help the board work in harmony.

“The Board of Education must work together for us to move forward,” she said.

The aldermen also weighed in on the selection process and Luter’s nomination.

“We need someone who is a bridge builder and a collaborator,” Alderman Forrest Owens said before nominating Luter.

“I think you will do a wonderful job,” Alderman Dean Massey said to Luter during the meeting. “You are qualified. We are all going to support you. The community is going to support you, and you will make an excellent school board member.”

“We are blessed to live in a community that values education — public education,” Alderwoman Mary Anne Gibson said, who seconded Owens’ nomination. “It’s assured there are many who are willing to serve will be disappointed, I hope that’s not the case because we are working towards that best decision.”

Alderman John Barzizza said he had participated in the process before and appreciated the 19 candidates who applied.

“We need to look carefully. The process needs to be deeper than a nominee,” Barzizza said, adding it was a tough decision.

By city ordinances, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen appoints the next board member because there was not enough time to file for the November elections.

Last week the board interviewed eight people for the position after they narrowed down a list of 19 applicants.

The vacancy came after Suzanne Jones resigned from the board when her family moved to Pennsylvania this summer.