2 Candidates Vying for Geary School Board

GEARY – Two candidates have filed for a vacant seat on the Geary Public Schools Board of Education and will go head-to-head in an election on Tuesday, April 5.

Taylar Burns and Lee Posey hope to join the board, which is currently comprised of Jason Bernhardt, Cecil Harrall, Afton Jameson and Waylon Upchego. The vote comes at an important time for Geary Public Schools, which is finishing up its first year under new Superintendent Sean Buchanan.

The district is in the process of exploring possible new facilities and making other big decisions as it seeks to improve student outcomes in academics, athletics and more.

The Watonga Republican submitted the same three questions to both candidates to help voters make a decision. Thank you to the candidates for their thoughtful response.

The voter registration deadline for the April 5 election is on March 11. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is on March 21.

Taylar Burns:

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background, especially as it pertains to this office.

A: My name is Taylar Burns, I’m originally from Mustang where I grew up and graduated high school. I met my husband, Roy, who is from Geary, and I have now lived here for the last twelve years. We have three beautiful children who go to Geary schools. We also farm and run our businesses in Geary. We run a small property business that buys vacant and run-down houses to repair them, we then rent or sell them. We feel that rebuilding these properties and providing people with safe and reliable housing is a benefit to the community. Also, we manage a farm and understand how decisions for our town and school can affect farmers, ranchers, and other property owners that are often overlooked in the decisions being made. Lastly, I run my own small businesses that while might not be well known to the community, does require an understanding of finance, management, infrastructure, and many other things that make an institution successful. This is our forever home and community. All I want to see is a better school and town for my children to grow up in.

Q: Why do you want to serve on the Geary school board?

A: Geary is our forever home as a family. My children go to Geary schools, all I want is to make this a better place for my family as well as other families. I want all children to have the resources they need to be able to be the best they can be. This needs to be a school that teachers want to work at, and that a community is proud of. Hopefully I can aide in the rejuvenation of our school and community.

Q: How would your perspective be valuable as GPS explores possible new construction or renovation of its aging facilities?

A: My husband and I own an investment property company, where we buy homes and remodel them in Geary then rent or sell them. In my experience it can cost more to renovate a building than it would be to start over, but it all depends on a multitude of questions and answers. Answers I do not have because I do not have the information to be able to give a correct answer. Without this vital information, the community is left in the dark, and this is what makes it nearly impossible to improve our school. Our schools and community cannot and will not improve without the support of the people and businesses in this community. I don’t think we can have their support without giving them the information they need to make an informed decision.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background, especially as it pertains to this office.

A: My name is Lee Posey. I previously worked for our city utilities for over 10 years here in Geary. I enjoy being a public servant and have had a calling for it a large part of my life. I have one child currently in the 7th grade. I have been in community service for a large part of my life in one way or another and enjoy it. My previous community service has been with Okeene Jaycees, Diamond Back Club, Okeene EMS, Okeene Police, Okeene Public Works, and Geary Public Works. I am currently a board member of the Geary Chamber of Commerce. I enjoy doing things to try and better our community.

Q: Why do you want to serve on the Geary school board?

A: I believe Geary Public School Board is the next step for me to help improve our community. I have heard a lot of people complaining about different things that they feel is wrong with our school system and some of that I agree with and some I do not.

Q: How would your perspective be valuable as GPS explores possible new construction or renovation of its aging facilities?

A: I do feel that our children need and deserve the best that we can give them, but I also do not think it has to be the ultimate state of the art facility. It can be a normal looking building. I feel we are a normal community and not extravagant, but it needs to be functional to be better for our children. To be able to build it, it must be something that the community can handle and afford, be reasonable and functional, and show pride for the community as well as our children to be proud to go to as well.