The Kosciusko City School Board president will be running for re-election sooner than expected.
After a recent investigation from the Mississippi School Board Association General Counsel, board president Dr. Kenneth Quick’s term will expire in November. Quick was elected as an unopposed candidate in 2014 to a five-year term; however, due to a mistake in 1994, his election cycle has been out of order.
“Dr. Quick took over for an unexpired term and served a five-year term, when it should have been just the remainder of that term,” George Dorrill, school board attorney, said. “There is even a mention in the minutes for Dr. Quick to be appointed to a five-year term, but the board does not have the authority to change the statute.”
Quick took office on April 12, 1994, taking over for Bernard Teague, whose term expired in February 1996. Instead of serving the remainder of the term and running for re-election in March 1996, Dr. Quick has served four consecutive five-year terms and is currently in his fifth, according to MSBA General Counsel Jim Keith.
“I was never informed until recently,” Quick said. “The minutes from 1994 say to elect a member for a full five-year term. No questions have ever come up until the mayor noticed this a few months ago.”
At a Board of Alderman meeting in April, Mayor Jimmy Cockroft questioned Dorrill about the position with concerns that school board elections were not taking place.
“It should have expired in 2016 and there should be an election,” Cockroft said. “If the city has to follow our election guidelines, I think it is only fair that the school board do the same thing.”
Dr. Quick has faced opposition only once, in the 1994 election, according to Dorrill. If only one candidate qualifies for an election, then no election is to take place, according to Section 37-7-213 of the Mississippi Code. Also, according to Senate Bill 2074 of 2012, the County Election Commission, not the school district, is to notify the public about school board elections.
The school board is made up of five members, three of which are appointed by the city and must live inside the city limits. The other two seats are elected and must live outside the city limits, but inside the school district. One person should come up for re-election or re-appointment each year.
Filing for the seat currently held by Quick, will begin 90 days prior to the Nov. 8 election, with the deadline 30 days before the election. Jenny Jones’ seat will come up fro re-election in November 2017.
