Longtime school board member Tom Courtney, center, had his LVUSD "family" by his side as he received the Small School Districts' Association "School Board Member of the Year" award. Joining Courtney, from left, Assistant Superintendent Nate Lambdin, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Olga Fisher, School Board President Chelsea LaGrange, Vice-President Jason Hansen, Courtney, Marina Savchenko, school board members Jessica Risler and Jim Harvey, and Superintendent Peter Livingston.
By Peter Day
LVUSD Social Media
Tom Courtney, who was first elected to the Lucerne Valley Unified School District governing board 29 years ago, was named the “School Board Member of the Year” at the Small School Districts’ Association State Conference in Sacramento last weekend.
In its award, the SSDA said Courtney is a fighter for students, a mentor of board members in the Lucerne Valley USD and across the state. Several board members from other California small school districts concurred the SSDA’s glowing assessment.
"Tom is a fearless leader who fights for kids in our district at every level,” said Superintendent Peter Livingston. “He has lobbied within our County, State, and Federally to get legislation to support rural students."
Fellow school board members praised Courtney’s decades-long dedication to the school district during Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting of the Lucerne Valley USD. Board vice-president Jason Hansen said he appreciated Courtney’s mentorship “and seeing how much you’ve done over the years, it’s very inspiring.” Jim Harvey, who served several consecutive terms as board president, said, “It was phenomenal. It was fantastic. We are very lucky to have Tom’s leadership, to have that mentor. It’s very well-deserved, Tom.”
After thanking his fellow board members, Courtney credited Harvey for playing a key role in taking the LVUSD school board to the next level. “It’s his drive that made this board what it is today. I admire Jim Harvey because he knows how to get it done.”
