Officials Elected To Area School Boards

SCHOOL DEBT EXTENDED FOR NEW FACILITY CONSTRUCTION

Two incumbents and a newcomer to public office were elected to fill positions on Farmington, Prairie Grove and Lincoln school boards in the Sept. 19 school election.

The election had a low voter turnout. For Farmington, 2.7 percent of registered voters cast ballots. In Prairie Grove, 3.3 percent of registered voters participated. Lincoln had the highest turnout, with 7 percent of registered voters in Zone 3 casting ballots.

Voters in Farmington School District also gave their support to a request to extend the district’s existing millage rate and debt service so it can issue bonds to help pay for football, soccer and track facilities at the new high school.

In Farmington, voters re-elected Doug Williams to serve another five-year term. Lincoln voters in Zone 3 re-elected Kendra Moore to another term, and in Prairie Grove, newcomer Whitney Woods Bryant was elected to a five-year term.

Washington County Election Commission will certify the election results on Sept. 29, said election coordinator Jennifer Price.

Jeff Oxford, Farmington School Board president, said voters’ approval to extend school debt is a “great win for everyone.”

Farmington collects a 42.6-mill property tax, of which 17.6 mills is dedicated to paying off existing debt. The school asked voters to allow it to extend the 17.6 mills another 12 years, from 2016 to 2048.

By extending debt, the district will have the financial means to go ahead and finish Phase 3 of the new Farmington High School campus, Oxford said.

Phase 3 includes facilities for football, soccer and track, along with an indoor practice facility.

“This will allow us to finish it all and not have to ask for a millage increase,” Oxford said, adding, “I’m excited to get a football and soccer complex but I’m probably more excited to get the track facility.”

Bryan Law, Farmington superintendent, said the district is moving ahead with its plans for the new athletic facilities. He fully expects people will see dirt moving in the next four-six weeks.

The school will pay for the projects through bond issues and money from its construction account.

Williams expressed his appreciation to voters following the election.

“I’m glad to be elected again and look forward to serving another five years,” Williams said. “There’s a lot going on in our school district.”

He added, “I hope to keep the momentum going on our test scores and keeping our salaries competitive so we can hire and retain the best teachers possible.”

Williams, 53, will serve his third five-year term as a Farmington School Board member. He is manager of Williams Tractor. Three of his children graduated from Farmington. He and his wife, Angie, have a daughter in 11th grade at Farmington High.

Bryant, 38, has seven years teaching experience and worked in the insurance industry. She made the decision about three months ago to temporarily leave the workforce.

“It will be a privilege to serve the Prairie Grove community and school as a board member,” Bryant said. “The future and best interest of our school district is very important to me. Thank you to everyone who supported me throughout the election process.”

She has one child attending a Prairie Grove school and two other children who will be in the school system in the future.

Moore has served on Lincoln School Board for seven years and was re-elected to represent Zone 3. She is owner of Redeemed Construction LLC, and has two children in Lincoln schools.

“I am very excited to continue to serve on the Lincoln Board of Education,” Moore said by email. “I look forward to working together to provide our students and staff the tools they need to be successful.”

“The future and best interest of our school district is very important to me. Thank you to everyone who supported me throughout the election process.” Whitney Woods Bryant Prairie Grove School Board

Williams

Moore

Bryant