The Clinton County school board is now back at full strength as life-long Clinton native Crystal Irwin was recently appointed by the Kentucky Department of Education to fill the seat left vacant last fall by Junior Cecil. Cecil had stepped down from the board after serving almost two terms, taking the position of 4-H agent with the University of Kentucky Extension Service.

Irwin was one of three local residents who had applied with the KDE to fill out the unexpired term and was officially notified by the department on January 7. She attended her first meeting on the board this past Monday night, January 18.

The newest member to represent Clinton County schools and its students, the former Crystal Brown, was born and raised here and is a 1989 graduate of Clinton County High School. She attended one year of college at Eastern Kentucky University before entering the work force, including a four-year stint at Osh Kosh B’Gosh in Byrdstown, Tennessee.

Irwin is most recognizable, however, for her current job occupation, having been employed with Kentucky Farm Bureau’s Clinton County office for the past 18 years, now holding the title of office manager.

Irwin said when the position came vacant, she saw an opportunity and wanted to see what goes on as a board member and be a part of helping the community and its children, including her own, in the education process.

Although never having run for an office, Irwin isn’t new to being part of the educational system in Clinton County. In fact, she was a member of the Clinton County Middle School Site Based Decision Making Council before having to resign that position when she got the board appointment. She had also served on the SBDM at Albany Elementary.

The Site Based Councils play a large role in what goes on in the schools and district as a whole, dealing with all aspects of education and oversight–from student programs to individual school personnel.

Other than being a member on the SBDMs, Irwin had also served as a member of the Clinton County Industrial Development Authority (IDA), a position she also resigned from after being appointed to the school board, and she is also on the Kentucky Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors.

Irwin said she and the other applicants went through an interview in December with John Thompson of the KDE and another selection committee member who was a member of the Garrard County Board of Education.

Irwin said she feels a board member needs to obtain a broad overview of how the school district works, especially in the area of budgets and financial matters.

“I feel the district is going in a positive direction,” Irwin said. “As a parent, I don’t see anything negative the district is having to deal with right now.” She also says she knows most of her fellow board members and thinks they will be good to work with.

“I look forward to working with the board members and people in the community,” said Irwin. “I want to feel the public can come to me if they have any problems or concerns and if I can’t help, I’ll pass it along to someone who can help, or to the board.”

She says she feels that if parents have concerns, they should foremost take the issue up with the principal of the school and to the board to address any concerns they have.

Irwin also indicated she will likely be a candidate this fall to seek a full term on the board.

Irwin, who attends Stony Point Baptist Church, is married to Roger Irwin and they have two sons, Ethan and Evan, a seventh and fifth grade student respectively, both at Clinton County Middle School.