Dr. Michael Price is the newest member of the Poplar Bluff Schools board. He was selected from eight candidates during a special public meeting Monday night. He fills the vacancy left by Alana Robertson.
Price is a retired dentist who previously served two terms on the Poplar Bluff Schools board and spent approximately 12 years on the school foundation. He is a 40-year member of the Kiwanis Club and has previously volunteered as a scoutmaster and in coaching baseball, soccer and basketball.
Price applied primarily to offer the board his experience with previous leadership changes.
“I think I can offer something for the next few months and try to help,” he said. “I honestly am not sure if I would want to apply again in April but I think for a stopgap, I could help.”
In Price’s experience, Poplar Bluff is distinct from many other schools in Missouri, and he looks forward to serving it.
“If you go to the MSBA meetings, and meet other schools, Poplar Bluff is different than a lot of those other schools. We have a real good school district. We’re financially in great shape. And there’s people all over Missouri that have no idea if they even have money in the bank.”
He finds the district has done an excellent job renovating its facilities, but recommended the board more clearly communicate to taxpayers how their funding was supporting students.
“I think that’s you’ve got to keep it in the news, letting people know how you’re spending their money,” he noted.
The district’s greatest recent achievement has been raising the graduation rate, he said. Rates were as low as 70% when he was last on the board but have now reached past 90%.
“We’re never gonna get it 100%. But I’d say the school has made great strides and I think that’s something we can really be proud of, is that graduation rate is up there that we’ve managed to get these kids where they can get out and do something,” he said.
The other applicants were Janice Desgranges, Lauren Duvall, David Elledge, Ciara Hicks, Larry Kimbrow, Rosemary Overbey and Raymond Webb.
Desgranges accumulated 40 years of teaching experience in classrooms of all kinds before her retirement. Her career included teaching in-school suspension (ISS) classes, minority and migrant schools. She was vice president on the Mark Twain Elementary and O’Neal Elementary Parent Teacher Organizations, and served as treasurer for Mark Twain’s Financial Board. She has participated in Project Graduation three time. She is currently the Corresponding Secretary of the Poplar Bluff chapter of PEO and teaches the I’m A Citizen Too summer class.
She applied for the board because she herself is a product of Poplar Bluff schools, loved teaching and wants to serve the community. “This is a way that I feel that I can continue in the education process and give back to the community.”
The biggest challenges facing the district, she said, were finding a replacement for Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill and planning ways to keep a competitive salary for teachers once ESSER money was spent. She greatly appreciated Dill and the board’s leadership in making Poplar Bluff schools a destination.
Duvall taught for 5 years at the Kindergarten Center. She and her husband currently operate a small business, which has given her financial experience. She is also a PEO member and a board member of The Giving Circle in Poplar Bluff.
She wrote on her application she wished to join the board “To serve the community, help better the district and staff. Provide and support better opportunities for our students.”
She believed there was a “double-edged sword” to the current education environment, where technology and practices are improving but staffing is difficult.
“I feel like education-wise, absolutely, we’re heading in a great direction, but then as far as being able to keep teachers... That’s nationwide. It’s not just a Poplar Bluff issue. And so I feel like that’s definitely a hit to education.”
Elledge was Difference Maker of the Year in 2020. He is also a chapter president for Sleep In Heavenly Peace, a co-pastor at The Bluff Church and the vice president of the Buddy Ball board. He has also been a board member and volunteer with Lake Road Bright Futures.
On his application, he described his vision for the school district: “To serve the children of the district with the best education in a safe environment. To support and lead our district staff in a way that allows them to flourish in educating our children.”
His reason for applying was his passion for service, which lead him as he helped found Bluff Church and inspired him to contribute to other ministries.
Elledge believes Poplar Bluff Schools is has a decisively positive impact on the community.
“I see so many positives in our district that are going on. I think we are in a good position,” he said.
Ciara Hicks is a funeral director at Cottrell Willow Ridge Funeral and Cremation Services. She has two children, one of whom attended PBHS, and she took on an organizational role for Team Action as well as supplying food and drink to the Mules wrestling team during tournaments. Her husband is a detective with the Poplar Bluff Police Department.
Applying for the board, “wasn’t something I had really considered before, but I think that it’s another great way to serve our community. I found it super gratifying and enjoyable being a funeral director, and so that’s another connection that I’ve started building with the community.”
Hicks’ only recommendation for improvement was in communication between the school and the community. However, she appreciated the district’s dedication all facets of student life.
“The most positive thing that I could say about the district is there seems to be an even amount of work put into academics and sports both,” she noted.
Kimbrow is a 28-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and has served on numerous PTO boards, athletics clubs and extracurricular activities in Poplar Bluff Schools, as well as community organizations and the Chamber of Commerce.
“I’m really excited about the potential of me joining the board and seeing the great things that’s happening continuing, and to make them better if possible, whether it’s academically, athletically,” he said.
He also praised the character and values of the Poplar Bluff school system, and Southeastern Missouri’s schools at large, compared to other areas of the country.
Overbey retired in 2018 after teaching for 25 years, then went into a social work position to help provide for families. She previously worked on the Insurance Committee for Poplar Bluff Schools. She also served on the Savannah, Missouri District School Board and Chamber of Commerce. She coaches cheer at Poplar Bluff Junior High.
Her vision for local education is “To see PB schools continue to accelerate with the best possible education for the children of this district.”
She disliked Common Core, she stated, and would push for more one-on-one time between teachers and students, which she believes has been neglected in recent years. “I still think teachers need to be doing a little bit of one on one with kids... It just seems like it’s all computer, computer. And that is a concern.”
Overbey said many positive things about the schools and administration. “The schools here work hard and work for kids, and get them to use their brain.”
Webb is the HR manager at Walmart and current Vice President of the Boys and Girls Club of the Heartland. He also sits on the Bright Futures Advisory Board and Site Council at Lake Road Elementary.
He wrote he wished to join the board, “To serve as a bridge between the different factions in the school district and to be a positive role model for the next generation. I think I’m forward looking when it comes to solving problems and I believe in teachable moments. I care about both students and teachers.”
Among the next generation are his own children, who are entering Poplar Bluff schools.
Webb said the district does a good job of providing resources for its teachers, but could improve by being “out in the community” more so than they already are.
Several applicants said they were open to running for election in the spring.