Kuklinski appointed to EIS board

Tony Kuklinski started his second term on the Elizabethtown Independent Schools board Tuesday night after receiving an appointment from the Kentucky Department of Education commissioner.

Tony Kuklinski

Kuklinski, who finished his first term on the board in December, missed the filing deadline to run again in the November elections. No one else ran for the seat, which left it to Commissioner Terry Holliday to appoint a board member.

Interested candidates apply for the position and are interviewed by department representatives. Kuklinski was the only one who applied for the seat.

Kuklinski said after he missed the filing deadline he immediately began working with Superintendent Gary French to determine how he could remain on the board.

“There was never a question of what I wanted to do,” he said.

Kuklinski was elected chairman of the board as well. Member Paul Godfrey was elected as vice chairman.

Kuklinski served on the board during construction of Panther Academy and renovation of Helmwood Heights Elementary School.

“It’s been a very busy first term for me,” he said.

Capital projects will continue with construction of a new athletic complex and renovation of the pool at T.K. Stone Middle School. Kuklinski also will assist the board in hiring a new superintendent to replace French, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Matt Wyatt began his first term Tuesday. Guy Wallace and Teresa Harris also serve on the board.

Kelly Cantrall can be reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.