11/10/2017
Longtime Owasso teacher and Owasso School Board President will not be running for a 4th – five year term. At 74, Gail Ballinger is encouraging “more tech savvy, fresh young blood” to step up and serve.
Gail brought us this letter, to share with you…..
Dear Fellow Owasso Citizens,
Gail Ballinger
This is a love letter from me to all of you for electing me to the Owasso School Board back in 2003. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, but after serving almost 15 years on the Board, I will not be filing for a fourth, 5 year term next month. I feel like the time has come for me to step aside and allow some fresh, young blood who is a lot more tech-savvy to take my place in serving you and the students of Owasso. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your support.
I represent Ward No. 3, and if any of you from that area of town are interested in the position, you can go to the school districts website at www.owassops.org, click on the departments tab and go from there to school board. This will tell you what the Ward’s boundaries are and you must live in these boundaries to qualify. As I mentioned, a term is for 5 years and there is no salary. It takes a servants heart to serve and you will be required to take workshops in order to stay qualified. The general monthly meetings are held at the administration building (across from Ator Elementary School) on the second Monday of each month at 6:30pm. Most meetings are 1.5 to 2 hours in length. Sometimes a special meeting will be called for at noon or late afternoon.
Board members have “power” only when a Board meeting is being conducted and then, the only business is that which is on the agenda. If a family member of a student calls you and demands that a teacher or coach be chewed out or fired, you do not have the power to do so! If a student, teacher, administrator or coach has to be disciplined, they are allowed “due process” and you will have to listen to their appeal and maybe their legal counsel before making a judgement for or against them.
Basically, the job of a school board member is to hire and evaluate the school Superintendent, set school policy, approve school expenditures and occasionally act as a (group) judge and jury. This is a great way to serve your community, especially the students of our wonderful city.
You can file for the position with the Tulsa County Election Board December 4,5,6, 2017. Their number is 918-596-5780.
As a retired Owasso school teacher, I would like to give a shout out to all of my former students and their parents! “Old Lady Ballinger” still loves you! I send a heart full of thanks and blessings to all of the students and parents of Owasso. You and our teachers are the very best.
It is a joy to serve in an active role in preparing the students of Owasso for the future and aid in setting them on the path for careers they will eventually choose. I have really loved being a part of bring out the potential in our students.
Sincerely,
Gail Ballinger,
Owasso School Board President
