Margaret Leggett leaves school board after 12 years

By Annie McCallum

Published: June 4, 2008

Margaret Leggett has served on the Amherst County School Board for more than a decade, but she will attend her last meeting June 12. Leggett, who is board chairwoman, is not seeking re-appointment. She is moving to Hillsville to help care for an elderly parent.

Leggett was appointed in July 1996. During most of her tenure she worked for Centra Health, retiring two years ago to take a job as a Lab Core key account executive.
Last week, Leggett sat down at her Elon home to discuss her time on the board and the memories she’s made.

- With your time on the board winding down, how do you feel?
“Well, I have to say I’ve been here 12 years, eight as chairman, so there are mixed emotions. I’m moving on with some new challenges and I will miss the camaraderie. We’re a family. I’m going to miss that. I’ve made so many wonderful friendships. We’ll stay in touch. I’m only going to be two hours away. I’m not that far away.”

- What advice do you have for future board members?
“Just give yourself plenty of time to listen and learn. It’s so overwhelming at first. It takes a full year just to understand what’s going on. The budget is one of the hardest things to understand. You have to go through a whole year of it first.”

- What changes to public education have you seen during your time on the board?
“Well of course meeting AYP and meeting SOLs. They have been on the forefront for a long time, meeting standards set for all schools systems and we’ve done a very good job at that.”

- What were the major challenges you faced while on the board?
“I think the biggest challenge is always a financial challenge. There’s not enough money. We have an incredible, incredible board of supervisors who have been so supportive of Amherst County Public Schools. But the government, federal and state you know, cut the funding so I think the financial impact is by far the most difficult.”

- What is the most memorable experience of your time spent on the board?
“I tell you there have been so many memorable experiences. I just really couldn’t choose one. I really can’t. To me the most memorable thing I’ve done on the board is when I attend programs that the kids are involved in. So all of those are memorable occasions for me.”

- What is the most difficult thing about being a board member?
“Having to make difficult decisions that involve children. You always agonize over decisions involving students because we have their welfare at heart. We are there to help them succeed.”

- What challenges does the school division face in the future?
“It’s going to be an ongoing challenge to maintain the standards set by our academic achievement, and those standards have to be maintained. With everything the economy is a challenge. We’re looking at rising costs in every sector. Everything goes back to finances and money.”

- Do you have a favorite part of Amherst County Public Schools?
“No. I enjoy going to anything at the schools where students participate. I don’t think it matters if it’s elementary, middle or high.”

- Is there anything else you would like to add?
“I just think we have an incredible school board now. I think we will continue to have that. Dr. Walker has been an incredible leader and I think Dr. Ratliff will continue to lead the charge. I think our motto says it all, every child, every day.”