January is School Board Recognition Month

Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2009

John Price is a proponent of equal opportunity education – he’s adamant that all kids receive high-quality instruction across the Fayette County Public Schools.

“We want to maximize the potential for every student. I want every school to be so good, their parents do not care what school they’re assigned to,” said Price, vice chairman of the Board of Education.  

His passion for across-the-board excellence has grown during the past three decades.  

One of his first connections with Lexington schools was the district’s Experience-Based Career Education program, which he got involved with in the early 1980s. As a certified public accountant, Price – who in high school entertained thoughts of being a teacher – was eager to provide students with hands-on experience in the workplace. 

Later, when his daughter was in kindergarten, he served as a homeroom parent. Then came PTA opportunities at Julia R. Ewan Elementary, a stint as president of the 16^th District PTA and terms on the School-Based Decision Making councils at both Julia R. Ewan and Bryan Station High School. He also was a PTA representative on the district’s Equity Council and served on the Safe Schools Task Force.

“I have what I think is a lot of ‘trench’ experience,” said Price, who was appointed to the school board in May 2003 to complete an unexpired term. 

Alice Nelson, the district’s Family and Community liaison, has known Price nearly 15 years.  

“John’s quiet and humble demeanor may keep some from realizing how much and how long he has stood up for all the children of Fayette County. John has been a leader who has consistently spoken up for the needs of the underserved in our community,” she said. “He understands the important effects sometimes dry, unnoticed policy decisions have on the educational needs of every child in FCPS and works to ensure that the best possible decisions are made for children.” 

Price, who represents District 3, is the most experienced member of the current board, having been elected in November 2003, 2004 and 2008. He has seen a lot of changes in these past few years, too. 

“The best decision I’ve made as a board member was to hire Stu Silberman as superintendent, he said. “Stu’s been a key to the progress we’ve made.” 

Price, 55, cited improvement in achievement at middle and high schools as chief among this year’s goals for FCPS.

“We’re making so much progress at the elementary level, we’ve got to be really careful at the middle and high school level so that our staff is ready for these students,” he said. “We’ve got to stay ahead so the kids don’t get bored and are continually challenged.”  

Price said he thinks FCPS is building a strong learning community in which all the schools are willing to share ideas and resources for the good of the kids.  

“When you focus on getting that child what they need, they’re going to learn and they’re going to do well,” he said. 

Did you know?

• John Price, a Lexington native, earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Kentucky. He’s president of Price, Stagner and Co.
• A widower, Price has one daughter who graduated in 2001 from Bryan Station High School; she’s now in graduate school at UK in the physician’s assistant program.
• His passions include UK basketball, nature and the outdoors. He’s a member of St. Peter Catholic Church, treasurer of the nonprofit Housing Equality for All Lexington and a trustee of the Kentucky School Boards Insurance Trust.