The Union County School Board said goodbye to two longtime members of the school district community at its Oct. 11, 2022 meeting with tears shed by some board members, administrators and members of the 45 members of the audience in attendance. The retirees were first recognized with plaques for their years of service and then, later in the meeting, the board members took the opportunity to make their own comments on the retiring individuals.
First to be recognized was Debbie McAlister, retiring from the Tiger’s Den after 31 years of service as a day care worker. When presenting her with a plaque, Union County Superintendent of Schools Mike Ripplinger noted that she had helped to raise generations of students and was one of the most and best loved members in the school district and the community at large.
McAlister said she had some reservations about retiring and was sure she would miss working with the youngest of the district’s students. She noted that she had been at the Tiger’s Den long enough to see three generations of children in some families – first working with a child, who became a parent sending their children to her and then becoming grandparents who showed an active interest in their grandchildren.
Recognized next was 20-year School Board Member Allen Parrish. Ripplinger said of Parrish, “I have come to depend on his insight and candor, as a teacher, an administrator and as a superintendent.” Union County High School Band Director Kelly Dorsey and Assistant Band Director Pam Higginbotham also presented Parrish with a commemorative award, recognizing his efforts to assist the band whenever possible. “He was the one that made it possible for me to come to Union County and work with the band and I will always be grateful to him for it,” Dorsey said.
School board members each took time to talk about serving on the board with Parrish and how he had helped and inspired them, but Parrish chose to wait until the end of the meeting to make comments about his retirement.
Board Chair Curtis Clyatt said he had known Parrish since childhood, both as a fellow student and also in the FFA.
“I always admired his wit, intellect, wisdom and ability to articulate,” Clyatt said. “Allen has served with great integrity and honesty and the students have benefited from it. I hope I can serve as well, and reach the level of excellence, that he has in his time on the board.”
Becky Raulerson first spoke to the retirement of McAlister, saying “She had both of my children and had a great influence on them.” She then turned her attention to Parrish.
To Parrish, who she had also mentioned in the invocation at the start of the meeting, she thanked him for helping her become an effective board member.
“You helped me learn this job, with both assistance and example,” Raulerson said. “You would give me those ‘you can’t do that eyes’ and always helped me stay accountable – a talent you gave to the board. Almost every decision or vote all came back to what is best for our students and we always tried to decide on the ‘Best Thing’.”
Board Attorney Dan Webb said it had been a pleasure to work with Parrish.
“When he came the district was in bad shape,” Webb said. “The district was bankrupt, we had a new superintendent and Allen was first elected. I admire his integrity – he always made us proud and put the students first. It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with him.”
Ripplinger said that he “had always valued Allen’s services to the schools and would miss him.
Board member Russell Gordon also thanked McAlister, saying that she now had one of his grandchildren in her care, then turned his attention to Parrish.
“Allen and I always worked in concert,” Gordon said. He said that Parrish “truly had a servant’s heart,” and that he (Gordon) had leaned on him a great deal during his service and would really miss him.
Parrish began his comments by joking that he really did not have anything to say, then expressed his thanks and congratulations to McAlister. He then spoke to the students in attendance at the meeting to meet the requirements of their Civic class, explaining to them that a board member had much more to do than to “read and vote.” “We are required by law to have the meeting agenda in our hands a week before the meeting, giving us time to learn what we need to know in order to make sound decisions. A big part of our job is to learn everything about what we will be dealing with so we will know what we need to do. Now that you know this you will have something to write about for your class.” In an aside to Clyatt he noted that he was “kind of looking forward to attending meetings and sitting in the audience and heckle the board and call out points of order.” He also gave his congratulations to the SMACK Champions.
Parrish then gave his final comments to the board.
“I announced early, in January, that I was not going to run again but instead retire,” Parrish said. “I announced early because I wanted to give anyone considering running for the seat the chance to really take the time and think if this was something they wanted to do.”
“Many of you might not know this, but Union County raised me, especially the school district, so I always said that when I got older I would try to give back.”
“The schools were bankrupt and the Florida Department of Education had come in and taken over the schools. I knew that I had the ability to help and decided in 2000 to learn what this job entailed. I felt like I needed to give back, so I ran against the incumbent and won by four votes. I have always believed that every single person in this county matters and I started with that. I learned in my first term what not to do. This job has been rewarding, but in some ways it has also been a burden, always having to keep up appearances – I am looking forward to being able to go to Spires wearing flip-flops.”
“Working with the administration has been a learning journey together and I am proud to have been part of this school district. I had promised myself when I first came to the board that I would stop if I ever felt that I was being ineffective and now I feel my priority should be spending more time with my family as I am getting older. I will miss it and I will miss my colleagues. This has always been a passion of mine and I always loved it.”
“Union County has seen a lot of tragedy since I have been on the board – students passing, severe illness in both the staff and the students – and when the school hurt the community hurt as well, but always rallied. I have seen what community means. I worked the school bus tragedy and I saw administrators teachers and community members of no relation to the victims come to the hospital, simply because they cared. That sense of community is what makes Union County so special. I have been glad to give back 20 years.”
“People should know that when they elect an official they are not only hiring that person but also their families. The same is true of administrators. My family sacrificed to allow me to serve, with the beginning of my first term requiring weekly meetings to get things straightened out. My wife worked as a teacher and my children attended the schools. They gave up vacations and weekend activities so I could learn and do this job.”
“Union County is special because of the people in it and the school district is the hub of it all. The schools, the facilities, the staff, the board, the community support, the funds raised through the community, the athletics, and the academics are all second to none. But the biggest reason Union County is so special is the students. They represent us well. I am told this everywhere I go.”
Parrish wiped tears a few time during his comments and once had to pause to collect his thoughts. He concluded with one comment to the board and all the others he had mentioned.
“Thank you guys for letting me ramble…I love all of you.”
Parrish’s District 1 seat will be assumed by the newly elected Board Member Chris Hodgson at the board’s Nov. 22, 2022 regular meeting.
