Regardless if he is serving on the Conway School District's Board of Education, the force will always be with Dr. Terry Fiddler.
Fiddler led his last meeting as board president Tuesday night after 21 years of service and Dr. Greg Murry, Conway superintendent, said he wasn't going to let him get away without recognition.
Murry said he will forever be indebted to Fiddler and the rest of the board for giving him the opportunity to serve as superintendent. He then asked the other board members if they would like to share any parting comments with their president.
Carolyn Lewis, who has served on the board with Fiddler for eight years, shared a story about how she gave him a special nickname a few years ago that has seemed to stick.
"Before a particularly stressful board meeting one time, I pulled Dr. Fiddler aside and said, 'You are our Luke Skywalker, use the force,'" Lewis said.
Fiddler said not only has the nickname stuck with him, but an action figure of Luke Skywalker has stared back at him from his seat in the boardroom for the past few years to remind him to be a good leader.
Lewis also presented Fiddler a Luke-themed gift on behalf of the board during the meeting a Star Wars T-shirt so he will always remember the good times he has had with his colleagues.
Board member Bill Clements has served on the board for three years and previously worked as an employee of the district for about 25 years. In that time, he said he has learned quite a bit about leadership.
"Dr. Fiddler has been my boss for many of those years and sitting on this side of the desk has really given me a different point of view," Clements said. "I know as a teacher I questioned the leadership at times, but in the three years I've been sitting in this chair next to the doc, I've come to appreciate good leadership."
According to Clements, after watching Fiddler in his leadership role over the years, he has learned to stand firm, show character and do a job to the best of his ability.
"He's a man of character, a man of conviction and a good friend and we'll dearly miss him but we appreciate from his heart what he and his wife have brought to this board," Clements said.
Lena Hancock, vice president of the board, shared a story about how Fiddler was more than a fellow board member to her. She explained how he went out of his way to be a friend and help her identify an undiagnosed medical problem.
"He's been an inspiration, a mentor and a friend," Hancock said. "I can't imagine this board without Terry, but we'll go on because he has led us right and he has taught us how to continue that."
A reception was held in Fiddler's honor prior to the meeting and past, present and possibly future board members were there to offer their appreciation for his years of service, along with a slew of former superintendents, teachers, family and friends.
During the reception, Murry presented Fiddler with a special token of appreciation the gavel he has used to officially kick off and end school board meetings for more than a decade.
However, the kind comments and gifts offered to Fiddler were not the only source of good news he heard during his last meeting as board president. During the construction update portion of the meeting, the board was told Nabholz Construction Co. will be saving more than $700,000 on two recent projects.
Lonnie Williams, president of Nabholz, said out of the $2.17 million estimate for the reroofing project at Carl Stuart Middle School, the district will not have to spend about $585,000 of that money. He said because Nabholz is serving as the construction manager and not just the general contractor, that money will go back to the district to be used for the students.
Williams also said although the numbers are not final, he thinks there will be a savings of around $200,000 after building Woodrow Cummins Elementary School.
The board also took the following action during its regular meeting Tuesday:
Recognized Sherry Haywood of Sallie Cone Elementary School for being named Arkansas Counselor of the Year.
Recognized the participants from National History Day.
Heard a report about Woodrow Cummins Elementary's first few weeks and dedication ceremony from Charlotte Green.
Approved the operating budget for the 2008-09 school year, which includes a revenue of $71,866,701, expenditures of $71,849,863 and an ending balance of $7.1 million.
Approved purchase orders and a list of bills paid in August.
Approved the transfer of one child from the Melanie Newby family to the Mayflower School District, three children from the Kimberly Brooks family to the South Conway County School District and one child from the Penny Rose family to the Greenbrier School District.
After an executive session, the board unanimously approved the following resignations from district employees:
Kim Smith, teacher at Florence Mattison Elementary School.
Tracy Bane, teacher at Marguerite Vann Elementary School.
Cliff Billings, food service.
Angelique Brooks, food service.
The board also approved the following new hires for the 2008-09 school year following the executive session:
Alicia Francis, reading teacher at St. Joseph Primary School.
Rhonda Dixon, nurse.
Elizabeth McCartny, elementary teacher.
Haley Morris, special education teacher.
Vikki Valentine, special education teacher.
Steven Bannick, construction paraprofessional.
James R. Loyd Jr., elementary music teacher.
Hannah Webb, kindergarten teacher.
Steve DiGiacamo, Bruce Wall, Kathy Herndon, Paul Gill, Rebecca Skeen, Linda Dow, Eldon Mason, Walter Patterson, Trent Mallett and Bill Powell, all bus drivers.
Yolanda Franklin and Andre Robertson, bus aides.
Virginia Weaver, Angelique Brooks, Joyce Robertson, Shawna Cook and Sandra Graham, all food service.
(Staff writer Jessica Bauer can be reached by e-mail at jessica.bauer@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236. To comment on this and other stories in the Log Cabin, log on to www.thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
