Incumbent school board member Mary Helmer has decided not to run for re-election.
Helmer announced the decision early Monday evening.
“After careful consideration of both personal and professional issues, I have chosen to not run for re-election to the USD 253 Board of Education at this time,” Helmer said. “... I may consider running again in a few years when my life settles down a bit.”
She called her service on the board “a wonderful experience.”
“I have especially enjoyed serving with former long-term board members Jerry Fair, Jeff Larson and Carol Schaeffer,” Helmer said, adding that another long-term board member, Grant Riles, is a “class act” who will lend experience and leadership to a new board.
Helmer was director of Emporia Main Street when she was elected to the board on April 5, 2005, along with Mike Crouch and Homer Garza.
She since has taken a job with the Kansas Main Street organization, where she is assistant state coordinator. The job takes her around the state, which has caused her physical absence from school board meetings. She has been consistent, however, in calling in to the meetings and attending them and voting through a telephone hookup and speaker.
Garza resigned from the board last year because a new job out of town made it almost impossible for him to attend meetings. Brent Windsor was chosen to replace him after board interviews with applicants for the position. Helmer thinks that the number of applicants interested in Garza’s position will be a plus as the slate of candidates is filled for this spring’s elections.
“I was pleased with the positive candidates who came forward to fill the slot in the board this past fall and am hopeful some of them will choose to run again in this election,” she said.
Crouch has not yet announced whether he will run for re-election, but said he will decide soon.