Former Providence School Board Chair to join Webster County Board

by Matt Hughes

Dr. James Kemp and Venita Murphy,
the Providence Board Chairman during
merger talks in 2006.

J-E News Editor

The Webster County School Board seat vacated by David Higgins earlier this year has now been filled. After soliciting applications and going through the interview process, Venita Murphy of Providence has been named the county’s newest school board member.

Although a new comer to the Webster County School Board, Murphy was chairman of the Providence Board of Education in 2006 during Providence Independent School’s merger with Webster County.

“My acquaintance with Ms. Murphy was through that consolidation process,” said Superintendant Dr. James Kemp. “She represented herself, her board and her district well under the most difficult of circumstances.”

“I served on the Providence Board of Education for 11 years,” Murphy said. “Hopefully my past experience  will be an added asset to the Webster County Board. As always I am for the betterment and achievements of the students in Webster County. I will serve passionately our community.”

Murphy will not fulfill Higgin’s term, which is not up until 2016. Instead she will fill the position until the next general election, which will be held in November of 2014. At that time the candidate elected will fill the position for the remainder of the term.

The last year has been one of change for the five person Webster County School Board. In November Providence District board member Steve Henry allowed his term to expire, while long time board chairman Jim Nance and member Dr. E Carolyn Tucker were defeated in their districts by new comers Leland Steeley and Mickey Dunbar.

David Higgins came onboard as Steve Henry’s replacement, but turned in his resignation only eight months into his four year term. Since then the five person board has been operating with only four members.

“It was reported that there were four candidates interviewed for the position,” said Dr. Kemp. “As it turned out, there were only two. Both candidates were superb, and Providence would have been well served regardless.”

Kemp said that all of the board members are excited to add a fifth member and welcome Murphy with open arms.