Sparkman tapped for BOE

Randy Sparkman has been appointed to the Hartselle Board of Education.

Tuesday night, the Hartselle City Council unanimously appointed Sparkman fill the position that is currently filled by Jeff Gray, whose term ends in June. Sparkman will serve for 16 months, at the end of which the board will change to an elected school board.

“I’m honored,” Sparkman said in a phone interview Tuesday. “I’m interested in these kids. There’s a lot of serious work to be done and some serious decisions to make, and as I said last night, this is the time to invest in education.”

The council interviewed Sparkman and five other candidates: Don Sanders, Danny Faulk, Maggie G. Wallace, Franklin D. Turney and Gray, who sought reappointment.

Sparkman has worked at NASA managing large public projects, staff, budgets and infrastructure, according to his application submitted to the city.

Sparkman also said he is hoping to provide some stability to the school system as it makes the transition from an appointed board to an elected board. In particular, he wants to see the high school construction project through to its completion.

“I hope to add a lot of stability to the school board and seeing this construction project happen over the next 16 months and steady this project,” Sparkman said.

Sparkman said he is considering running for office in 2012, but he hasn’t made a decision about that now.

“There is a lot to consider,” Sparkman said. “I will have to see if I’m making a positive impact on our school system and see if it is feasible next year.”