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Longtime Mountain Home Public Schools Board of Education Member Neal Pendergrass announced on Thursday that he would not seek re-election in May.
Pendergrass began his service on the board in 1999 and will soon complete his sixth consecutive term. “After much consideration, I have made the decision to not seek a seventh term on the Mountain Home School Board,” he said.
Pendergrass noted that during his tenure on the board, there have been major shifts in education. “During the past 24 years, I have seen many changes in our school system as well as education in Arkansas in general,” he said. “Locally, the start-up of our academies, significant improvements in alternative learning and the addition of many programs to help students move forward.”
Having raised his children in the school system, Pendergrass expressed his appreciation for the district and its educators. “Both of my sons came up through the system, and they were fully prepared and ready for college,” he said. “I am just very thankful for the quality of education they received.”
Pendergrass also expressed his gratitude to his community and fellow board members. “I am grateful that the community put its trust in me and allowed me to serve for six consecutive terms unopposed,” he said. “Also I have so much appreciation and respect for all those board members I have served with over the years. These individuals have had to make difficult decisions in their roles, and they always did it with the best interest of students in mind.”
Pendergrass, who recently completed 500 hours of school board member training through the Arkansas School Boards Association (ASBA), will receive the ASBA President’s award at this year’s annual conference in the fall. During his tenure on the local board, he served as president twice. He also served on the ASBA Board of Directors and once served as that board’s president.
