Newman completes 30+ years on school boards

by Johannes Brann

“I think my son was in Second Grade and my daughter in Kindergarten when first I was elected to the school board,” began Mike Newman in an interview shortly after attending his final school board meeting at the Northeast Vernon County (NEVC) R-I School District in Walker. The school board to which he was first elected hasn’t existed for almost three decades; the Walker R-IV School District.

“Now I was on the Walker school board for eight or nine years and was President at the time when the Walker and Schell City School Districts were put together,” continued Newman. Immediately, he corrected himself. “Actually I should say Walker was annexed by Schell City.”

NEVC Superintendent Chris Holcomb presents outgoing school board member, Mike Newman, with a plaque for 28 years of service to the district, which happens to be the entire time the NEVC R-1 School District has existed to date.

The Walker district had poor student test scores and was about to lose its accreditation. Meanwhile, the Missouri General Assembly had set a minimum school millage rate for the support of school districts; the voters in Schell City had twice voted down this property tax increase. In one of its last acts, the Walker R-IV School Board appointed Newman, along with David Day and Jenise Burch to serve on the new joint NEVC board.

“You know how the line, ‘Hi, I’m from the state and I’m here to help you,’ is generally a joke? Well, I think the folks that came down here from DESE (Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) back in “95 and ’96 actually saved both Schell City and Walker. Because time after time in this county—and I’m sure it’s true elsewhere too—once you lose your school, families leave and your town soon blows away. But by keeping our schools, we’ve kept the towns too.”

Newman speaks from personal knowledge and experience as he is currently an alderman in Walker, having begun serving in that capacity several years before he joined the school board.

Currently serving as Manager of Woods Supermarket, Nevada, Newman married his wife, Kathy, in 1977; they have two children and nine grandchildren. He reflected on his own education.

“I’ve been pushed trying to keep up with technology and that’s made me even more realize we have to keep up with the technology and the times for the kids”, said Newman. “When I think of all the change in business I’ve seen, I’m not sure I can even imagine what the world will be like in 20, 30 or 50 years from now. But I do know, that a good basic education—reading, writing, basic math and knowing how to express yourself and deal with people—will always be important and that’s what I always pushed for at NEVC.”

Asked why he initially ran and then served on the school board for a total of well over 30-years, Newman said, “To help the education of the kids. I like sports and I agree that not everyone is cut-out for college, but a good basic education is what my kids needed and I think all kids need to have these days.”

He called himself a “realist”—meaning he knew that—being a smaller and poorer district, Walker and NEVC has and still sees a good number of first year teachers, those starting out in the profession.

“Yeah, we’ve trained up a lot of them before they went off to districts that could pay more. But you know, just as with the kids who I run into and had graduated years ago, I’ve run into teachers who said thanks for helping them get a start. What they learned here is impacting students all over and I’m proud of that too.

Newman expressed his gratitude for the able administrators—superintendents and principals—along with counselors, special education teachers and para-professionals, along with specialist teachers in reading and math for the effort and difference they make.

And as to why he is retiring now Newman said, “We’re in good hands. District finances are in a good spot and there’s a realistic plan for empowering teachers and raising student test scores. So I thought now is a good time to let others take their turn and make a positive impact for the next generation. I enjoyed it and I will miss it but it’s time.”