School board incumbents, Stewart, bond issue win

Olney voters returned incumbents Jodee Wales and Kenley Lane to the Olney Independent School District Board of Trustees and gave their full support to newcomer Hannah Stewart, who ran unopposed in the May 4 municipal election.

Voters also approved a $8.3 million bond issue to build campus storm shelters that will double as classrooms and augment existing shelters.

Mr Wales bested opponent Landon Rowe, 67.7 percent to 35.3 percent in the school board election.

Mr. Wales was running for his second three-year term and has two children attending district schools. His focuses are safety and academics, and on improving Olney’s sports teams.

Mr. Lane won his seat with a 66.9 percent mandate from voters, compared to 33 percent for challenger Ryan Cawthon.

He won a third term to the OISD Board, and also has two children in the district’s schools.

Mr. Lane prioritized “meeting the needs of students, teachers and staff ” in his campaign.

Mrs. Stewart, a registered nurse and first-time candidate, ran unopposed for the Place 3 seat that Tower Extrusions president Mark McClelland filled after OISD Board of Trustees President Jake Bailey moved away from Olney.

She and husband Will Stewart have three children attending OISD schools. She prioritized ensuring that “Olney ISD is a pillar of excellence, a district set apart”and pledged that her decisions as a board member will be “evidence based” and that “all data is collected and will be considered objectively.”

The passage of the general obligation bonds obligates the OISD to the current tax rate of 19 cents per $100 valuation for the next two decades.

The bonds will pay for a storm shelter and seven new classrooms at Olney Junior High School and a secure corridor between the band hall and the Career and Technology Education Center, as well as renovations to the elementary school and the existing shelter at the daycare.