Retiring PNGISD trustee bids farewell, others sworn in
Published 7:19 pm Tuesday, December 11, 2018
GROVES — There weren’t tears — but it was a close call.
As Port Neches-Groves Independent School District Superintendent Mike Gonzales spoke about retiring board member Lana Parker there was a brief moment where the two paused ever so slightly.
Parker, he said, has been on the school board for 9 1/2 years, having served as president twice.
“We really appreciate her service and will miss her,” Gonzales said.
Parker, he said, has spent her career in the education field having served as a teacher for 33 years prior to serving on the school board.
“And she’s also a cancer survivor,” he said — a topic she didn’t want to discuss during the recent school board meeting for fear of crying.
Some years ago before Gonzales took the helm at the district he headed to a salon where he shaved his head in support of Parker, who was going through treatments for cancer.
Trustees sworn in
As Parker left with a bouquet and a plaque in her honor, two returning trustees and one new trustee were sworn in to office including Parker’s replacement.
Dustin Marsh was sworn in to the spot vacated by Parker. Returning trustees include Eric Sullivan and Scott Bartlett.
Officers were elected during the meeting and include: Scott Bartlett, president; Brandon Cropper, vice president and Mark Holmes, secretary.