New Central School Board Sworn In; Dr. Jim Gardner Named President

March 18, 2011 0 Comments

CENTRAL — The seven newly-elected members of the Central Community School Board formally took their oaths of office Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, in ceremonies which included family and loved ones.

The board elected Dr. Jim Gardner as the new President, replacing Sharon Browning who completed a two-year term. Will Easley was elected board vice president, replacing Gardner.

In addition to Gardner, Browning, and Easley, four other board members were sworn in:

• Incumbent Ruby Foil

• Incumbent Dr. David Walker

• New board member Roxanne Atkinson, and

• New board member Jim Lloyd

After the meeting, Dr. Gardner said his No. 1 priority as board president will be the adoption of a Strategic Plan for the Central Community School System.

“In the Dec. 23 issue of the Central City News, each of the new board members expressed their concerns and their goals for the next four years. Every one of those concerns and every one of those goals should be addressed by a Strategic Plan,” Gardner said.

“Just to cite a few examples, Jim Lloyd wants to look at the school system’s finances over the next three to five years. Mrs. Browning wants to address standardized test scores and the growth in enrollment. Mr. Easley wants to be certain the new School Complex is built properly. But the first step in fulfilling all of the worthwhile goals of our seven board members is to sit down and work out a Strategic Plan that encompasses all of their ideas and, especially, the concerns and goals of our parents, teachers, administrators, and the general public,” he said.

“After PBK was chosen to design the new school complex, parents, teachers, administrators, and the general public were involved in a process that led to creation of the design which was ultimately agreed upon. And that’s the same kind of process we envision for the creation of a Strategic Plan,” he said.

“I believe planning has been key to the success of the Zachary school system. In fact, every organization, large or small, should have a strategic plan.”

Gardner praised the leadership of Sharon Browning, who has served as board president since early 2008. “She’s been very effective. I appreciate her leadership. She has a cool hand in calming difficult situations, and there were many times when she got us out of trouble as a board. She loves this school system, and there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for our students.”

Gardner recalled that Mrs. Browning presided over a time of great progress for the Central school system, including

• Gained voter confidence by refusing to roll forward tax millages

• Led voters of the community through successful passage of a $55 million tax and bond election to build a new school complex

• Selected an architect, designed new schools, and started construction of the school complex

• Enrollment passed the 4,000-student mark.

PHOTO: New president Jim Gardner with wife Mary Ann and son Judge Mark Hornsby

By Woody Jenkins, editor, Central City News