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Joseph W. Hidy
Age: 57
Candidate for: Jenks Board of Education, five-year term
Birthplace: Little Rock, Ark.
Lived in District 5: 25 years
Job Title/Employer: President and CEO, Triad Bank, N.A.
Married to: Karen Hidy
Number of children/schools they attend(ed): Five Jenks graduates
Religious or civic organization affiliations, including any leadership positions: First Presbyterian; president, Jenks School Board; director of Tulsa Police Reserves; Board of Directors, Oklahoma Bankers Association; past president, Jenks Band Parents; Colonel, Support Group Commander, Oklahoma Air National Guard; Squadron Commander, Oklahoma Air National Guard; past president, Sunrise Rotary Club
Registered voter? Yes
Previously sought or held elected office and if so, when and what office? Yes. Jenks school board, 2003
Highest level of education, name of institution, and year graduated: BBA Finance, University of Oklahoma, 1972; Master of Business Administration, Golden Gate University, 1979; Stonier Graduate School of Banking, 1986; Air University War College, 1998
Why are you seeking this position? I have five years experience on the Board of Education. I enjoy being on the board and watching the successes of the children in the district. I have watched my children mature into adults while getting a public education at Jenks. I have a grandson who will be starting Jenks soon and want to see him grow and prosper there. I love being an advocate of public education supporting the wonderful teachers and staff that make up the Jenks district.
What do you believe are the chief responsibilities of a school board member? The Key responsibility of a school board member is to work successfully with the other four board members in completing the following primary school board tasks: Employ and evaluate the superintendent, determine policy and see that district policy is administered appropriately, approve the annual school district budget and see that the budget is implemented appropriately, complete other activities that are legally required of school board members. Study and research issues facing the district and public education and make decisions that are in the best interest of the students, teachers, staff and patrons in the district.
How much time would you plan to spend in the schools in your voting district on a weekly basis? Because Jenks has fewer than 10,000 students enrolled, board members are elected by the entire school district, not just the ward in which you reside. I, however, try to attend every PTA/PTAG meeting at all the school sites as well as any special functions such as legislative luncheons. I attend the Board Showcase, which is an all day event held twice a year as well as all board meetings and special board meetings. But this is only a small part of the time required. For every hour you spend in a board meeting, you spend about 3 hours preparing for the meeting.
What should the relationship of the school board be to the superintendent? The school board and superintendent should have a good, positive and productive working relationship, with all parties focusing on the same vision and striving for the same outcome. Currently, I am happy to say this is the situation in the Jenks School District. Even though we do not always agree on every issue, we do agree that we will always do what is best for the students, teachers, staff and the patrons. During my five years on the board this has been the hallmark of our relationship with the superintendent.
What are the greatest strengths of the school district? In Jenks our greatest strength is the focus our students, teachers, administrators, parents and board have on "STRAIGHT A's." By that I mean ACADEMICS, ARTS, ATHLETICS, ACTIVITIES and ATTITUDE. Additionally, we focus on ensuring that all students in the district enjoy every possibility for success now and during the remainder of their lifetimes. A school district's success is measured on the success of its students.
What are the greatest weaknesses of the school district? Without a doubt, the greatest weakness, and the greatest challenge for the board, is our lack of adequate operational funding from the state. Our Jenks School District patrons provide outstanding support by passing bond issues that insure we can continue to make capital purchases of new classrooms, technology, textbooks, etc. Unfortunately, funding of operational expenses, teacher and staff salaries, insurance, utilities and daily maintenance, is woefully lacking from the state.
What changes and/or new initiatives, if any, would you like to see in Jenks Public Schools? It is essential that we increase and improve our lobbying efforts at the state and federal level, in an attempt to secure increased funding for our schools. If reelected, I intend to continue and hopefully double our efforts to secure additional operational funding for our public educational system in Oklahoma.
Please include any other comments or concerns you have about the school district here:
It has been a privilege and one of the highlights of my life to have my children attend Jenks Public Schools and to have served as a board member for this excellent school system. I have watched my children go forward to college, ready and prepared to face the challenges of higher education.
My oldest daughter became an attorney, my oldest son is a Captain, (Major selectee) in the Air Force currently serving in the Middle East; my middle son is in his second year of Medical School at the University of Oklahoma; my youngest son is a junior at the University of Oklahoma planning on attending law school, and my youngest daughter is a freshman at TCC studying to be a registered nurse.
Two of my great desires are to continue to serve the patrons, students, teachers and staff of Jenks as a school board member and watch my grandchildren as they begin their educational career at Jenks.
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