Germantown school board accepts resignation of member Suzanne Jones

The Germantown Municipal School District Board of Education accepted Suzanne Jones’ resignation Monday night.

Jones had sent a written resignation to Chairwoman Betsy Landers that said her family was moving due to a job opportunity for her husband. Jones was elected to position 3 of the school board in November 2016. Her last day was July 31.

“We are sad to see Mrs. Jones go,” Landers said Monday. “We wish her well in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. We thank her for her passion and committed service.”

Jones described her time on the school board as a “tremendous experience.”

“There’s nothing more important than the education of our students,” she said. “The time spent in the schools with students and teachers, it was exhilarating.”

She said she hopes going forward the board will look to make Germantown one of the top districts in the nation, not just at the county and state levels.

“We can always challenge ourselves,” she said, adding she felt like she was in the minority when she challenged the standards in the district.

She said that when she won the 2016 election she was the only candidate with business experience, and she hopes the next candidate has values similar to hers.

“I hope when the city reviews applicants they will remember why people voted for me,” she said.

The board notified city administrator Patrick Lawton of the vacancy Tuesday. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen will declare the vacancy at its scheduled meeting Monday and begin the search for a new board member, per city policy.

The city also will notify the election commission of the school board opening. Brian Curry is running against Landers for position 2 in the Nov. 6 election, and Angela Griffith and Robyn Rudisill are running for position 4 as Lisa Parker will not seek re-election.

According to Pablo Varela, attorney for the Shelby County Election Commission, the school board position will not be on the November municipal election ballot. The deadline to file has passed. Applications must be submitted to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen by Sept. 12, and the board will determine finalists Sept. 17. The finalists will be notified the next day and have interviews Sept. 19 and 20.

At the Sept. 24 Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, the board will appoint a candidate for the position, who will be sworn in Sept. 25.

The position will be up for election in 2020.