Judkins takes reins as school board chairman
Leadership of the Warren County Board of Education changed Thursday night as Larry Judkins was elected to replace outgoing chairman David Sneed, who chose not to seek reelection to the board this year.
“I appreciate the vote of confidence,” said Judkins. “I will do the best job I can and I look forward to working with the other board members, Dr. Jerry Hale and the rest of the school administration.”
Having served as the board’s vice chairman during the past year, Judkins will assume the body’s leadership position under the board’s rotating chairmanship policy. Board member Dr. Deborah Watlington was elected vice chairman Thursday night, meaning she will take the reins next year.
A quality control inspector with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Judkins was first elected to the school board in 1998.
He currently serves as the chairman of the board’s Building, Grounds and Insurance Committee and is a member of the Athletic, Negotiations and Grievances and Transportation Committees. He was reelected to his 3rd School Board District seat in 2002.
Judkins said the biggest challenge he will face as chairman will be seeing that the school system complies with all aspects of the No Child Left Behind Act, the massive federal education bill passed in 2001.
He will also be kept busy as the school board and Warren County Commission work together to build a new school at Centertown.