Dave King, Julie Wagner Feasel reflect on tenure with Olentangy Schools board

After a decade-plus each of working through the whirlwind of Olentangy Schools’ meteoric growth, retiring school board members Julie Wagner Feasel and Dave King are prepared to leave to others what they believe to be the district’s next big issue – growth.

Both King and Wagner Feasel opted not to seek reelection in 2021. They marked their final meeting Dec. 9.

Wagner Feasel joined the board in 2006, appointed to fill the term of Dimon McFerson, who left the board for health reasons. King first was elected to the board in 2009.

During Wagner Feasel’s tenure, the district opened 12 new school buildings; seven of those were while King also was on the board.

Read more: Lester, Daberkow share goals as they prepare to join board in January

“It’s been a good 12 years, the whole tenure filled with wonderful experiences,” King said. “(Stepping away) comes with mixed feelings, but the district is in a good place, and I felt it was time to retire and let new people come on the board.”

“I’m very proud of the work we’ve done while I’ve been on the board,” Wagner Feasel said.

She had worked on levy campaigns and redistricting committees prior to joining the board.

She also said she was comfortable following and understanding how the state legislative process affects public school funding. Working to bring about changes in the state budgeting process that would affect Olentangy positively was a hallmark of her tenure on the board, she said.

“I also tried to effectively communicate and educate the public on that school-funding and legislative process,” she said.

King has served on the district’s facilities committee, including as board liaison, prior to running for election. He said he thinks the experience has served him and the district well during his tenure.

“The facilities committee works hard to understand population trends, and I have worked hard at the board level to bring some knowledge of how those things translate to physical and staff needs,” King said.

Still, both acknowledged being unprepared for a few issues – the types of issues they could have learned only once they were on the board.

“I would never have anticipated I would make a Facebook page where I would talk to residents about the district,” Wagner Feasel said. “The district has always had staff and various ways of communicating with the community. But with the board being a separate and distinct entity, I just decided at some point it was valuable to get that voice out there, as well.”

“Serving on the board just comes with a better, deeper understanding of how layered and complex the district is,” King said. “And board members aren’t in the classrooms, but I know in helping with the seventh-grade Project Based Learning and attending some other programs I might not have otherwise, I was able to really see how smart and talented so many of our students are.”

Both acknowledged that increasing population and enrollment and the need to build new buildings will remain a focus for the district for the foreseeable future, but Wagner Feasel noted the district’s currently strong financial picture means the board and administration can concentrate on looking forward.

“It’s been a reality that we’ve always had to talk about when we were going to be on the ballot next,” she said. “But I am encouraged and hopeful that things like the importance of mental-health support for students and changes overall in public education, not just in Olentangy, will be able to be addressed in addition to dealing with the growth.”

King encouraged the new board – returning members Kevin O'Brien, Mindy Patrick and Lakesha Wyse and newly elected Kevin Daberkow and Brandon Lester – to continue the tone of professionalism he thinks has been the tone for the board during his tenure.

“Even when we had differences of opinion, we worked it out ourselves and came to a consensus on what was best to do for the district,” King said.

“I’ve never believed that compromise is a dirty word. I believe in compromise and collaboration and believe that’s something this board will have to continue to do,” Wagner Feasel said.

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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Dave King, Julie Wagner Feasel reflect on tenure with Olentangy Schools board