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Turner mourned as search begins
As the process of replacing the late Attwell Turner as a member of the Letcher County Board of Education begins, past and present school employees and officials are continuing to mourn his loss.
As is required under state law, Letcher Schools Supt. Anna Craft notified Kentucky Commissioner of Education Jon Draud in writing on December 27 that a vacancy now exists on the board. Draud is expected to declare the seat vacant later this week, after which a search for a new member can officially begin.
Turner, 75, of Seco, died December 21 at the University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington after a short illness.
Friends, co-workers, and fellow school officials say it will be hard to replace Turner in the school system.
"I think he is really going to be missed," said Peggy Wilcox, president of the Kentucky Educational Support Professional Association (KESPA) and a member of the state board of directors with the Kentucky Education Association (KEA). "I know the classified employees are really going to miss him. I think he is going to be missed by both classified and certified employees."
Turner, a retired teacher and bus driver in the Letcher County School System, represented the communities of Thornton, Haymond, Seco, Millstone, and Fleming for the last three years.
"As my friend and as a board member, the loss is tremendous to me," said Supt. Craft. "It has broken my heart. The whole district is in shock and is saddened by it."
Jon Henrikson, a retired teacher from Carcassonne and former KEA president who spent a lot of time with Turner as the two fought together for rights of school employees, said Turner is one of his heroes and best friends.
"He is one of my best friends because of all of the battles we went through," said Henrikson. "I was really upset about his death and have done a lot of thinking about him. I think the school system will miss him."
Henrikson said Turner stood up for what he believed in whether it was for employees or students.
"One of the big issues for him was if there was a vacancy he wanted to make sure it was advertised and everyone had the opportunity to apply for it," said Henrikson.
Turner frequently voiced suspicion that positions that became vacant in the school system had already been filled before they were advertised. Henrikson said Turner was an honest man who didn't care to ask questions of anyone.
"He wanted everyone to know what he had to say," agreed Wilcox. "He didn't hold it against you if you didn't agree with him."
Wilcox said Turner had probably forgotten more than most people know about education. She said he was an asset to all the school committees on which he served.
"He could go back in his memory and could think of things no one else could remember," she said.
Wilcox said Turner could always be counted on a voice for the district's classified employees.
"He felt that they had not been treated fairly," she said. "He was always there to lend a helping hand in any way he could."
Henrikson said Turner was one of the hardest working people he knew.
"He always put himself second," he said. "He was always concerned about others. It was very selfless of him."
Craft said the next board meeting, during which Turner will be honored, will be conducted with just four members.
"It just truly wont be the same," said Craft.
After Draud accepts Craft's notification that the Division No. 2 seat is vacant, the local board will advertise the vacancy for two consecutive week in The Mountain Eagle. The advertisement will state the deadline for applicants to apply for the position, requirements to be eligible for the position, and the duties of a school board member.
Persons interested in filling the vacancy until the next regular election must be at least 24 years old, have been a citizen of Kentucky for the past three years, and be registered to vote in Thornton, Haymond, Seco, Millstone or Fleming. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED certificate, and cannot be related to employees who work for the district or provide contract services for the district.
Applications can be picked up at the Letcher County Board of Education office, located at 224 Parks Street, Whitesburg, Kentucky 41858.
Once applications are received, John Thompson, the Kentucky Department of Education's board member appointment coordinator, will chair and coordinate a screening committee which will recommend a new board member to Draud. Members for the screening committee will be chosen from the Prichard Committee, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Kentucky and the Kentucky School Boards Association.
While state law requires the recommendations of the screening committee will be considered, the final decision on who the new board member will be rests with Draud.
Draud's choice will remain in office until the next regular election. State law says the position must be filled within 90 days after the vacancy occurs.
Craft said Thompson hopes to have the position filled before the Kentucky School Board Conference in February so that the new board member can obtain leadership hours and orientation from the conference.
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