OKLAHOMA CITY (Free Press) — It’s one other 4 years for Paula Lewis, incumbent Oklahoma Metropolis Public Faculties Board of Schooling Chair.
However under no circumstances may or not it’s known as a landslide. Lewis gained the district-wide vote by a 342 vote margin.
The unofficial outcomes on the finish of the night on Election Day confirmed Lewis with 4,576 votes, 51.94% of the vote, and challenger Charles Henry with 4,234 votes, 48.6% of the vote.
Lewis feedback
We requested what she hoped for transferring ahead.
“For the primary time, probably in historical past, the board and the superintendent and the district are on the identical web page,” Lewis instructed Free Press at her watch occasion. “Like, we’re pulling on the identical finish of the rope. We’re transferring in the identical course.”
“And, that’s my objective is that we proceed the momentum we’ve had,” Lewis added. “And, we’ve been by way of some loopy stuff in 4 years, between Pathway to Greatness and a pandemic. And now popping out on the opposite facet of the pandemic was stability.”
She mentioned that she simply “need to maintain the bus transferring ahead” and see OKCPS because the “gold normal.”
Charles Henry didn’t reply to makes an attempt to contact him on his cellular phone by the top of the night.
4 years in the past, Free Press lined Lewis’ first win for board chair after having served in a board district seat for 4 years earlier than that.
“Nice management”
Mayor Holt arrived late within the night to congratulate Lewis. 4 years in the past he endorsed Henry for the Workplace 1 seat however endorsed Lewis this time round.
We requested him why he selected to endorse Lewis this time.
“It’s a unique race,” Holt mentioned. “That is Paula the incumbent. She has led the district in a really difficult time, clearly with the pandemic however you recognize, earlier than that, working with the superintendent, who I believe could be very well-liked on this metropolis, on Pathways to Greatness, demonstrated her management potential.”
“I believe when the incumbent has demonstrated nice management and finished a very good job, I’ve little interest in switching horses,” Holt mentioned.
“And I take a look at these races because the mayor, however I additionally take a look at them as a mother or father,” Holt added. Each of my youngsters are in Oklahoma Metropolis Public Faculties.”
Holt mentioned that now that we’re popping out of the pandemic it is going to be time to evaluate what injury the it has finished to the faculties.
“Large day for youths”
Board member Carrie Jacobs was on the watch occasion and we requested what her response was to Lewis incomes 4 extra years as Board Chair.
“Right this moment’s a giant day for youths. That’s what it comes all the way down to,” mentioned Jacobs. “Paula has labored onerous for all college students in all components of this neighborhood for 4 years after which I do know represented her district nicely the 4 years earlier than, and I’m so excited that she will get to do this for an additional 4 years. The neighborhood trusts her to hold on that torch.”
“Potential”
Free Press talked with the OKCPS Superintendent Sean McDaniel concerning the election outcomes.
“You understand, there’s potential on the market,” mentioned McDaniel. “And, we’ve bought to assist individuals attain their potential.”
McDaniel continued, “I’m pleased for Paula. I’m unhappy for Charles. Each of them have volunteered their time to our faculty district. Any person needed to win, any person needed to lose. And so we’re thrilled, and we’re behind Paula.”
“And simply an enormous congratulations, and thanks to Charles as nicely. He put within the time, he did what he wanted to do. And I’m certain you’ll see him round doing good issues for youths transferring ahead,” McDaniel mentioned.
District 1 seat
Carole Thompson gained the race to characterize the far northern a part of the expansive faculty district with a commanding lead by the top of the night over Brett Hayes.
Thompson was not accessible for remark Tuesday night.
A key assertion from Thompson within the OKCPS Basis discussion board earlier than the election was about placing “youngsters first.”
“I imagine that an efficient faculty board member’s decision-making emphasis must be youngsters first,” mentioned Thompson. “That’s all that issues is, youngsters first.”
Neither have been incumbents however Thompson had been in OKCPS as a instructor for years after which as an administrator with deep ties to the neighborhood. She continues to tutor youngsters although formally retired from her skilled training duties.
Hayes is the director of Behavioral Well being Integration on the Oklahoma Division of Human Providers.
He mentioned that the important thing to being an efficient board member was to have a “robust, robust relationship together with your superintendent.”
District 2 seat
Lori Bowman beat James E. McHenry for the District 2 seat. Neither have been incumbents.
Free Press was in a position to get Bowman on the cellphone Tuesday night time. We requested what she thought of transferring ahead in her new accountability.
“I’m thrilled to have the nice honor of being a member of the board,” Bowman mentioned. “And, I stay up for studying extra about what’s potential.”
Bowman mentioned that she desires to know clearly the “energy of 1 member.”
She continued, “What I wish to see is an actual laser give attention to our COVID return to high school plan and the way we’re going to get youngsters tutorial and psychological well being wants met as quickly as potential.”
Bowman’s background is in training coverage each in Washington, D.C. and in Oklahoma Metropolis. She has two elementary youngsters that at the moment attend within the district.
Studying the problems and listening to a broad spectrum of individuals had been on the core of her feedback within the discussion board.
“I believe as a person board member, that you must have a dedication to studying the problems and speaking to stakeholders and speaking to vital companions in your district and across the neighborhood to study concerning the points,” mentioned Bowman within the OKCPS Basis discussion board.
James E. McHenry is the daddy of 5 youngsters who all went by way of Oklahoma Metropolis Public Faculties and is a lively mother or father and PTA chief within the district for 30 years.
He mentioned that there shouldn’t be an “I” within the deliberations of the board and “coming collectively as a group.”
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The publish Paula Lewis wins in Board Chair race for Oklahoma Metropolis Public Faculties appeared first on Oklahoma Metropolis Free Press.
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