Clinton School Board gets new member

By Randy Bell    

Greg Nohra, a 1997 graduate of Clinton High School, joined the Clinton Public School District (CPSD) Board of Trustees on July 1 with the City now in compliance with state law after appointing school board members to staggered terms.  A committee made up of Mayor Will Purdie, Ward 3 Alderwoman Amanda Jones, Ward 4 Alderman Chip Wilbanks and Ward 6 Alderman James Lott recommended Nohra to replace Derek Holmes, who has served on the school board since 2012, and the Board of Aldermen voted unanimously May 2 to make the appointment.  Nohra’s term will run until 2031.

In order to establish the staggered terms, the Board of Aldermen in February reappointed the five current members of the school board to terms of varying length, with Holmes remaining on the board until July 1, Dr. Matt Thomas serving until 2027, Paula DeYoung’s term on the board running until 2028, Dr. Felicia Gavin serving until 2029 and Bernard Kines reappointed to a term ending in 2030. 

Nohra says he’s honored to have been selected to serve on the Board. 

“I am proud to be an Arrow and, having been a product of the district, I know firsthand the advantages and opportunities attending our Clinton schools affords our students,” Nohra said.  “CPSD’s celebrated history of excellence continues today with our academic and extracurricular programs, and I’ve had the opportunity to witness that from a parent’s perspective as my two daughters have progressed through the elementary schools and the junior high.”

Nohra continued, “I’ve been able to be involved in the PTOs [Parent-Teacher Organizations] along the way, serving as PTO President at Eastside and Lovett, as treasurer and secretary at CJHS and also as part of the CPSD Strategic Planning Committee.  In those roles, while I’ve participated in PTO and school events, I’ve gotten to see up close how amazing our teachers are.  Watching how they—every day—treat these classrooms full of our children as if they’re their own children never ceases to amaze me.” 

“Our teachers are a blessing to our kids, and, whether or not we agree with the specifics of how a math lesson is taught or how much homework is sent home, there is no denying that the kids are being taught to a high standard AND being cared for the whole time,” said Nohra. “These amazing teachers and administrators are the reason our district is so successful, and it’s been a blessing for me to be able to play a small part.  I look forward to continuing my PTO and Booster Club involvement, this year serving as president of Sumner Hill PTO, President of Ambassadors and another term as secretary at CJHS.”

Nohra says the opportunity to serve on the Board of Trustees “opens another avenue” for him to be involved in CPSD’s continued success. 

“Our Board and administration have clearly worked well together and have done a stellar job strengthening the district’s programs.  I’m excited to be able to help continue that effort as I start on the Board, because I want every child in Clinton to receive as excellent an education as I was blessed to receive from Clinton Schools.”