ANDERSON, Ind. —
Danny McGhee said he wants to help Anderson Community Schools become elite.
The school board Tuesday evening unanimously voted McGhee, a quality engineering specialist for Indiana Automotive Fashioners Inc., to fill a board vacancy.
A handful of people, including the finalists, sat in Anderson High School’s cafeteria, 4610 S. Madison Ave., to learn of the decision.
“To be appointed is a great opportunity for me to try to consolidate the school system along with the community,” said McGhee, who has student tutoring experience.
First, McGhee said he wants to focus on getting caught up with the board’s recent actions.
But he already has priorities.
“In particular, I’m still looking at graduation rates, improving that status,” he said.
McGhee mentioned graduation rates, along with parent accountability, during his interview at Monday night’s meeting.
He also discussed bringing a good sense of communication to not only the board but parents, as well, and getting the community to buy back into the system.
There were no hard feelings from finalists Amber (Smitherman) Dietz, a controller at Hallmark Homes Inc., or Virginia Chapman, professor of speech at Anderson University, as both congratulated McGhee.
“I think he’ll be good for the position,” Dietz said.
She said she still plans to be involved with the school system but doesn’t know if she’ll run again.
“I’ll see where life takes me,” she said.
Chapman, who has run for the board before, said she doesn’t know if she will do it again. “I don’t know what the future will bring.”
She said she believes McGhee will be actively engaged and make a great school board member.
Board member Tim Long thanked the finalists for being prepared.
“The choices were not easy,” he said, adding that any of them would have done a fine job.
Member Irma Hampton Stewart said she was impressed by Chapman’s background and Dietz’s involvement in the school system, but made her decision based on McGhee’s interview, history and organizational skills.
“I think he’d be a good representative for this board,” she said before the vote.
Board member Dr. Scott Green was not in attendance at the meeting.
McGhee’s official swearing-in will be in February. He replaces Tyrone Vertner, who resigned in December, on the board.
Contact Dani Palmer: 640-4847, dani.palmer@heraldbulletin.com
Local Education
Related Photos
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Anderson Community School Board member Stephanie Moran shakes hands with Danny McGhee after McGhee was chosen to fill a vacancy on the board during a special meeting on Tuesday. Don Knight
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