Outgoing school board members leave lasting impression

FARMINGTON—There have been some changes in the Davis School District Board of Education as four members finished out their terms in December. Julie Tanner, Marie Stevenson, Cheryl Phipps and Gordon Eckersley chose not to run again. However they have all made an impact in the district during their time serving.

“I came on in 2015,” said Tanner, who has served for eight years. “My dad had served in southern California so there was a bit of a family legacy.”

Tanner said she decided to run because she’d seen a need for improvement involving parents and teachers on the ground. “Decisions were being made at the district level but they needed to add teacher and parent voices and make them a part of the decision making.”

Politics are kind of messy, she said. “I ran again though because I kind of wanted to show myself if people liked what I was doing. When I won that was the feedback that they did like what I was doing.”

Tanner said her goal was to listen respectfully to anyone. “I’d think deeply about their concerns.”

Parents would sometimes speak negatively about the district, she said. “I’d say I know someone is working hard. Then I’d set up a meeting and go with them so they would feel confident to talk to them.”

It’s important to bring people together, Tanner said. “We need consistent public comment. At times it got a little rough and some said untrue things but it gave us good feedback to improve and clear up misunderstandings.”

COVID was very challenging, she said. “People had different needs and dif -