Bill Jenkins to step down, Canyon ISD board faces another vacancy

Editor's note: Paul Blake was elected to the Canyon ISD board to take over when Bruce Cobb stepped down; the name of the board member who stepped down was incorrect originally in the story and has been corrected below. The Globe-News regrets the error.

Bill Jenkins, a trustee with the Canyon Independent School District (CISD) Board of Trustees since 2015, resigned at the board’s regular meeting Monday evening in Canyon.

This resignation comes just over a month after the board selected Mandi Palmer as an interim appointment to replace Paul Blake, who died in July. Palmer was chosen from nine other applicants for the position by the board. Blake was elected to take over when Bruce Cobb stepped down after his 19 years in the position.

As Jenkins read his resignation letter at the end of the meeting, many board members were moved by his comments and applauded his service for the district’s students.

Canyon ISD Superintendent Dr. Darryl Flusche said that Jenkins leaving the board is a void for the district.

“Bill Jenkins with this board wanted to uphold the highest standards to make sure that all of our kids have the most opportunities," Flusche said. “He worked diligently to make this happen for our students. He was so available to our students and staff for the betterment of our kids, so that when they walk across the stage at graduation, they have as many opportunities as they can be prepared for as possible. We really appreciate the efforts that he made on this board for all."

With the vacant position, Flusche said that the board would have discussions about how to fill the vacancy in an upcoming meeting. Jenkins spoke about why he decided to step down following the meeting.

“The reason for my departure is not because it’s too hard, but my last 18 months have been extremely hard on me and my family,” Jenkins said. “There have been some incredibly happy, sad and heavy things in my life over that time. Over the last 18 months, my wife and I have experienced what it is like to be empty nesters. I had the great honor to marry off my daughter. Earlier this year, my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and with my mom’s health issues, I need to have more freedom to help her out.”

Jenkins said his mother lives more than nine hours away from the area in Fairfield.

He said that ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, perceptions of school boards and other government entities have changed.

“I think since that time, there has been something created in our society with a lot of mistrust and anger toward anything representing government," Jenkins said. “I think people all want the same things, which is what is best for our kids; there is a level of not trusting. Everyone on this board is God-fearing, good people who are here to serve the kids because they love them. To ever have your integrity questioned is hard, because that is what I hang my hat on.”

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He said that his doctor was concerned about the stress that has been imposed on him over the last 12 months with all the issues that he has faced.

“I need to take care of myself and my family,” Jenkins said. “I could still do that serving on the board, but it's time that I lighten the load. I am going to continue to find ways to be involved with our schools, because I care about our kids.”

Dealing with the challenges of the district's significant growth, Jenkins emphasized that it was a great achievement for the board during his service.

“Just planning how to accommodate over 11,000 students and ensuring that they all have a safe place to learn, a suitable place to learn and enough teachers to teach them and buses to get them there. That is a math problem, and we figured it out," Jenkins said. "To say that I am proud that we built buildings, sure that is fun when you have something new, but I am most proud to see how well our students have done. I am most proud that we have given them a firm foundation to do remarkable things once they graduate. I can see with my kids that they were prepared to go to the next level."

With great praise to the team of CISD administrators and Superintendent Flusche for his leadership, Jenkins said he is a better man for the experience of serving on the board.

“We have as part of this family of Canyon ISD, we really have a great team that cares about our students and their outcomes,” Jenkins said.

The decision to resign from the board has been on Jenkins' mind since his dad went into memory care in January.

Jenkins also talked about the criticism that has been leveled upon him after calling out former board member Blake for his negative comments in April about LGBTQIA+ students and any school materials that would even mention the existence of the community, ahead of May's election. Blake had blasted the so-called LGBTQIA+ agenda in school board meeting comments and at his place of worship, Trinity Fellowship. After comments in a church candidate forum where Blake called the LGBTQIA+ agenda demonic, perverse, and from the devil, Jenkins addressed those comments at the next school board meeting in May, calling for Blake's resignation due to its antithesis to the mission of the school board.

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When asked if, in retrospect, he had any regrets about his comments at that board meeting, Jenkins said that he still feels he did the right thing.

“I'm so sorry for the loss that Paul Blake’s family has faced; he was a good man that wanted to do the best things for the kids,” Jenkins said. “No, I have no regrets for speaking out on his comments. I am confident I did the right thing because I feel like we have to treat each other with love, respect and dignity. Here in a public school, it is our job to provide a safe place to learn and equal opportunity for all kids, regardless of where they are from or if they are different than I am. I make no apologies for speaking up for all our kids.”

Jenkins lamented the recent criticism of the board for appointing Blake’s replacement rather than rushing to an election, with personal attacks targeted at members of the board, including its newest appointee, for not being perceived as Christian enough in their views.

“We have been very blessed as a board to have a very well-functioning team where none of us has served with personal agendas,” Jenkins said. “I hope the person that fills my place comes in and has no personal agenda but to serve the better interests of the entire district. When you have a personal agenda, that’s where things break down. You must put others above yourself to serve the greater good.”

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Trustee Bill Jenkins resigns from Canyon school district board