The Icon talked with Brad Dailey, 9232 Dixie Highway, Bluffton, the newly appointed member of the Bluffton school board. He will be sworn in during the November meeting. Here is part of our conversation.
Icon: What interested you in seeking a spot on the school board?
I chose to seek a position on the school board because I want to see Bluffton Exempted Village Schools continue to have success in providing students with the excellent education that it has for many years.
Our school system is very fortunate to have such strong administrative staff, teachers and employees. I’m sure most residents of Bluffton would agree with me that Bluffton schools has one of the best learning environments in the state.
Have you thought of seeking a board spot before this year?
In previous years, I have been asked if I would be interested in running for school board. The idea always intrigued me, but I never felt like I was ready or could commit to serving at the level it took to make a quality board member.
When I heard of the possibility of a vacancy this time, I pondered the idea for a short period and truly felt in my heart that it was time. The experiences I have had serving organizations in this community have been extremely fulfilling.
How do plan to approach your position on the board?
My goal in my first year on the board is to learn everything I possibly can about how Bluffton schools and the board of education function.
I will then use what I have learned to maintain the superior level of education and continually improve every aspect of our school system. In a school system, the most important thing to remember is that everything we do is for the students.
Every conversation that I have had with current and past board members, administrators, teachers and parents have been about the students of Bluffton schools. That is key to what our past has been and where our future will be.
You and your wife, Jessica, are both BHS grads, right?
My family has a long history of graduates of BHS and our three children are current students here. My wife, Jessica, and I both graduated from BHS in 1998.
Tell us about your family.
Jessica and I were married in August 2001. We were locker buddies, since alphabetically it was Dailey and then Davis (her maiden name). She is a certified family nurse practitioner with Internal Medicine Specialties, Lima. She took over family practice for Connie Ingalls, another Bluffton High School graduate.
We have three children, Carter and Caitlin, twins, 16 and sophomores. Carter is in Latin Club, band, cross country, bowling and Boy Scouts. Caitlin is Mrs. Huffman’s student helper, and is in cross country and bowling. Coby, 11, is a fifth grader and participates in baseball, football, bowling and Cub Scouts.
Where do you work?
I’m assistant manager at Glandorf Feed Company, and have worked there since May 2007. Previously I worked for my father at Southgate Lanes.
Share with our viewers some of the organizations you’ve been involved with.
• Member of Lima Community Church
• Bluffton Diamond Sports – Board member and coach 7 years, treasurer 4 years
• Cub Scout Pack 256 – Committee member and leader 10 years, treasurer 3 years
• Boy Scout Troop 256 – Committee member and leader 6 years, treasurer 2 months
• Bluffton Music Boosters – Co-vice president with my wife, first year
