By Jocelyn Pedersen
Polls will be open Tuesday to select the next Noble school board member for Seat No. 5. The incumbent is Kim Adams who is opposed by Ryan "Leroy" Lukinbill. Cindy Malone is running unopposed for Seat No. 3. Below is an overview of the two candidates running for Seat No. 5.
Ryan "Leroy" Lukinbill
Lukinbill graduated from Noble High School in 1982. He lives in Lexington, within the Noble school district and has one child attending Noble schools. He has lived in the Noble area most of his life and has worked at the Norman Fire Department for nearly 25 years, currently holding the rank of captain.
He feels that his "background in public service will lend well to being a part of the school board." He believes that the knowledge and experience he's gained in the fire service will help to make him an asset on the school board through his ability to make important decisions, provide strong leadership, communicate effectively, work within a chain of command, and provide a quality service for the public. Within the fire department, Lukinbill has served as an executive board member and on numerous committees where he's been involved with equipment purchasing, promotional exams, hiring decisions, developing policies and procedures, personnel issues, contract negotiation, and budgetary issues. He feels that school boards face many of these same issues.
"I have confidence in the Noble school system and the achievements that have been made over the years. I'm proud of the school system and the work that's been done," Lukinbill said. "But I also believe we can always be better and there are always ways to improve."
He states he believes good moral values and a strong work ethic coupled with a quality education will give kids a good foundation for success.
"The things that I will bring to the table are a strong work ethic, good moral values, a positive attitude, educated decisions, and the ability to consider all perspectives."
Lukinbill feels that he has the time and attention that a position on the school board deserves and that "a in a town the size of Noble, a small group, such as a school board, cannot solely take on the task or bear the responsibility of providing the means for the education of the kids of Noble." He states that he intends to "reach out to the experience and knowledge that is in the town of Noble and any other resources available and simply be a part of the continuing progress and development of a quality school system that the kids of Noble deserve."
Lukinbill states that he has no agenda platform, rather he wants to "improve the quality of the Noble school system overall. It's all about the kids," he says.
Lukinbill invites voters to contact him with questions or concerns at 226-3812 or to e-mail him at lukinbill //www.theccchronicle.com/category/community-news/noble/.
Kim Adams
Adams has served on the school board for two years. She graduated from Noble High School in 1989 and has lived in the area most of her life. Adams has three children attending Noble schools. She owns and operates a home day care.
Adams said she attends "a little bit of everything every week." She feels attending sporting, choral and agricultural events is part of the job. "I feel a good school board member supports our kids, and to me, that means attending their functions so that they can see us supporting the teachers and coaches at the same time." She also states that a good school board member's responsibility is not to run the schools, but to see that they are well run.
Adams' objectives and goals for Noble schools include providing an educational environment where each child can succeed using fresh ideas and approaches to un-tap each student's potential. She wants to hire teachers and administrators who nurture children's curiosity, self-confidence, self-control, and moral thinking. She strives to work with the schools to offer the best educational experience within the school's limited resources and funding. She promotes partnerships between parents, administrators and the community and development of nutritional programs to prevent childhood obesity through healthy eating.
"I am a worker for the kids," she said. "I'm constantly doing things for the children of Noble. I'm big on kids getting the best education they can possibly get. We have a small-town feel here in Noble and I really enjoy being a part of that and seeing our educational system grow here."
Adams states that she is very pro-Noble and works with students outside of her school board responsibilities, having run the Rose Rock Pageant for the last 14 years. She's also involved with the Noble Public Schools Foundation, the Noble Wellness Committee, Noble Project Graduation and Senior Class, and the Noble High School Choir. Additionally, she has been a Noble Soccer Club officer for five years and a PTA officer for two years.
"Everything I do is all about kids," she said. "Kids bring so much to my family's life."
Adams invites voters to contact her at 872-9007 with questions or to visit her Web page at redwalter.com.
