LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18)– Fayette County Board of Education Chair Melissa Bacon, who has served on the school board for more than 12 years, said Wednesday she has notified the state commissioner of education that she is resigning effective immediately in order to care for her aging mother.
“It is with mixed emotions after much prayer and discernment that I am resigning from my board position,” Bacon said. “My mother, whom we celebrated 90 years young last weekend, is in failing health and requires full time care. I will not be able to adequately devote the time needed to continue my board work.”
Bacon was appointed to fill an unexpired term representing District 1 on the Fayette County Board of Education in November of 2006 and ran to continue to fill the spot in 2007. She was elected to a full four year term in 2008 and re-elected for her second and third terms in 2012 and 2016. She has served as chair since the spring of 2016.
Her time on the board was marked by a period of dramatic student enrollment growth from roughly 35,000 to more than 42,000. She was instrumental in working with Commerce Lexington and other community leaders to aggressively address school facility needs and reimagine high school education.
Since Bacon joined the board in 2006, the district has opened nine new schools, renovated 22 schools and two support facilities, acquired property to become the permanent home for STEAM Academy and expanded its partnership with Bluegrass Community and Technical College to place STEAM students on a college campus. Fayette County’s 37th elementary school is currently under construction and will open in the fall of 2019.
“It was truly a step of faith and an honor for me to serve my community in my board role,” she said. “I completely support our board, superintendent and district in all the initiatives currently underway and will continue to be the biggest advocate and cheerleader for Fayette County Public Schools and public education.”
Under Kentucky statute, the state commissioner of education will have 90 days to appoint someone to the open seat. The appointed school board member will serve for one year and the position will be up for election in the fall of 2019.
