1/18/2009 Geary, Lauzon, other newcomers facing tough financial issues By Joy Campbell Messenger-Inquirer Across the region, seven newly elected public officials have attended their first board of education meetings this month. Ohio County has three newcomers on the five-seat board, and Muhlenberg, McLean and Daviess counties and Owensboro Independent districts have one each joining the veterans. Hancock County returned incumbents to its school board. With years of declining state revenue threatening local school districts, the new board members were given an opportunity to talk about their expectations. Barry Geary, who represents District 1, said he has 11 grandchildren in Ohio County schools, and he felt like he had experience and expertise to bring to the position. He served on the board for 12 years from 1990 to 2002 and was chairman for six years. Geary said school boards still have quite a bit of responsibility including setting policies, creating and abolishing positions and sending the school councils their allocations. "As tight as money is getting, changes need to be made," Geary said. "We need to tighten our belt and make sure we're spending our money wisely." In months leading up to the November election, Superintendent Soretta Ralph was under fire, primarily because of her management style and hiring violations brought to light after an investigation by the Office of Education Accountability. Despite some complaints, the previous school board showed its continued support in Ralph and voted 4-1 in December 2007 to grant her four more years on her contract. Asked about that, Geary said there are people in the community interested in how the school system is run and in a change in leadership. "When it comes to making that decision, I'll make it," he said. The new board member said he has made his position clear to Ralph and other board members. "I will not vote to cut positions or programs in the schools as long as I think there is money being spent unwisely," Geary said. "I don't want to cut funding for kids and teachers." Geary said if the board "runs into things that need fixing" the members will work on them. Cate Lauzon acknowledges that she still has a lot to learn about her new position on the Owensboro Board of Education, but she's getting up to speed fast. She went through Kentucky School Boards Association training in December and expects to attend workshops at the annual conference at the end of this month. "I'm still trying to absorb the legal and financial aspects," said Lauzon, who was a stalwart volunteer in the independent school district as her two daughters moved through. Lauzon said her impetus for running was the passion she has for education in general and for Owensboro Public Schools in particular. "We are special, and we stack up well with other schools in the nation," she said. "I felt this (board membership) was the next step for me." Lauzon said she wants to work to help the public feel more involved in the board's decision-making and to create more "open-ness." "Individual board members have been very open to me, and I want to extend this to the public," she said. Lauzon continues to be excited about the high school's major construction project that will add a new fine arts wing and a new, multi-purpose gym. "It looks like we may be able to use the arts section at some point in the next school year," she said. Dianne Burns Mackey has gone through local orientation and already has attended her first Daviess County Board of Education luncheon and regular meeting. She wants to continue sharing her message of "no tax increase now" with other board members. "I want the community to grow and to broaden the tax base, not tax people more," Mackey said. "When people are having difficulty, we should take that into consideration." Mackey said her parents inspired her to be involved in public life. "My dad wanted me to be a pharmacist, but my mom said, no, you need to be a teacher and give back," Mackey said. "I'm thankful I did; it was so rewarding. I believe this is an extension of that." Sally McGehee spent 28 years as a teacher in the McLean County Public School district retiring in 2001. With a 6-year-old grandson at Calhoun Elementary Schools and a 2-year-old grandson eventually headed for the classroom, McGehee decided to run for a seat on the school board. McGehee had no issues with the incumbent, Otis Griffin Jr., when she entered the race, but she felt it was her time to serve. "I felt like I could make a difference," she said. "I'm the first retired teacher on the board, and I think I'll bring new insight; I've been in the trenches." McGehee recalled milestones in the district including closing Beech Grove School and building McLean County Middle School. She also worked in the system through several superintendents. "I saw good things happen, and I also saw others that should have been thought over more," McGehee said. The new board member is excited about her new challenge and has pledged that any decision she makes will be made after considering the best interests of all McLean County children, not just those in Calhoun. She has been meeting with administrators and will continue that process. Jerry Winters, the new board member in Muhlenberg County, and Dwight Raymond and Bradley Beatty, newly-elected in Ohio County, could not be reached for this story.