On left, Kent Minnette was named to replace Dale Petrie, right, on the Crawfordsville Community School Corporation School Board. Petrie will be retiring from the boad on Dec. 31 after 21 years of service.
Crawfordsville attorney Kent Minnette was chosen Monday in a special meeting of the Crawfordsville Community School Board to replace out-going member, Dale Petrie.
Minnette, who has four children in Crawfordsville schools, said he is ready to learn the issues facing the board.
“There are some challenges facing the board, like ISTEP testing, that I will work to understand better,” Minnette said. “I am excited to learn the job and help in any way that I can.”
Minnette is married to Erica. Their children are eighth-grader Regan, sixth-grader Reese, third-grader Samuel and Jason who is in first grade. He is an attorney in the law office of Kirtley, Taylor, Sims and Chadd.
Minnette said his legal position should be of some help to the board.
“I am very honored to join the school board,” Minnette said. “My background in municipal law should help me be productive on the board.”
Minnette plans to take his oath of office Jan. 1.
Petrie, who will remain on the board until Dec. 31, is proud of the accomplishments of the board since he first joined the board 21 years ago.
“We have had some successes since I joined the board,” Petrie said. “One that stands out in my mind is the elementary school reorganization. It seems to have worked well. It has proved to help with the testing issues and the staff and teachers like it.”
“The new Crawfordsville Middle School is a gorgeous building and it should serve the needs of the community for a very long time,” Petrie said.
In 21 years, Petrie has worked with several good board members. He said although the names changed from time to time, there was one ingredient always present.
“I have appreciated the consistency on the board,” Petrie said. “We have had a low turnover rate and some members have spent many years on the board.”
