Meetings of the Gwinnett County School Board typically are full of special recognitions of award-winning students and staff as a prelude to the Board conducting its regular monthly business.
The events before the Dec. 20 meeting of the Board were something altogether different as district leaders, employees, and community members gathered to honor two outgoing Board members and welcome two new members who were officially sworn in before the meeting.
A special program celebrated the legacy of service of Daniel D. Seckinger (District II) and Dr. Robert McClure (District IV), featuring tributes from student musicians, and school, district and community leaders. Both Mr. Seckinger and Dr. McClure retired at the close of 24 years of service to the schoolchildren of Gwinnett County as members of the Board.
A BOE Calendar Note… The January meeting of the Gwinnett County Board of Education will be held on Jan. 24. Note that this is the fourth Thursday of the month instead of the usual third Thursday. Find a schedule of Board meetings online.
Following a reception, the two incoming Board members were officially sworn in by Judge Christopher Ballar in front of a large crowd of family, friends, and supporters. Everton Blair, Jr., was sworn in to serve District IV, while Steven B. Knudsen took the oath of office as the Board representative for District II. Mr. Knudsen and Mr. Blair officially take on their duties this month.
During the Dec. 20 business meeting, a more lasting tribute was made to the pair of long-serving School Board members when their colleagues adopted names for two new high schools. The new theme high school opening in the Meadowcreek Cluster in August of 2019 will be called McClure Health Science High School. Dr. McClure has served patients through his dermatology practice in Lilburn since 1980. The new high school bearing his name is located at 3921 Club Drive in Duluth. The new theme high school that will serve students in the Mill Creek Clusterwill carry the name of the School Board member who has served that area for six terms. Plans for Seckinger High School, whichwill be located at 3621 Sardis Church Road in Buford, are under development at this time.