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The first Lanett School Board meeting of the year was bittersweet. While students and faculty came to thank the school board for their service as a part of School Board Member Appreciation Month, one member was not able to be thanked.

Longtime board member, Tony Edmondson died last week, having served on the Lanett City School Board for over 20 years. In front of the empty chair usually reserved for Edmondson, sat a bouquet of flowers with his nameplate in front. 

“Mr. Edmondson served as a faithful member of our school board for over 20 years and so his service did not go unnoticed, and he will truly be missed among us,” said Jennifer Boyd, Lanett City Schools Superintendent.

The meeting started with a moment of silence for Edmondson who had been on the board since the early 2000s. This was followed by a prayer from fellow board member, David Gagnon. Edmondson also served as an area chairperson for the Valley Haven School, a nonprofit offering educational services to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

To acknowledge the school board member appreciation month, Bella Mitchell, the Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher at Lanett High School, brought three of her students involved in the FCCLA. The students presented the board members with flowers. W.F. Burns Assistant Principal Regan Gilbert also recognized the board members, giving them a certificate and pin. 

“[Edmonson] has been a part of our school board for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl, he was a part of our school board. So tonight, we honor his legacy,” Gilbert said. 

The meeting ended with Boyd giving her a report on the happenings in each of the schools. 

Boyd lauded Hilda Carslile, the city’s Career Tech Director, for her work in getting Junior High more involved in career readiness. She did the same for Mitchell, who presented, and had 28 of her students get their ServSafe certificate for food safety. 

Boyd advertised the FAFSA workshops being put on by the school’s counselor, to find scholarship opportunities for the high school seniors. She also announced that bids for the renovation of the district auditorium will open on Jan. 25. Boyd hopes the project will start before the end of February.

The superintendent ended on a high note recounting how the Lanett High School Spanish Club created cards, in both English and Spanish, for patients at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.