Kelley appointed to Board of Education

Craig Kelley made his position clear in responding to his first interview question.

“Something has got to be done,” Kelley told the Hoover City Council on April 3. “You’ve got to cut costs.”

Kelley was the Council’s first of seven interview subjects in its search for the next member of the Hoover City Schools Board of Education. During his time before the Council, he responded definitively to questions about the Board’s financial state.

“There’s a simple fix,” he said. “The school system cannot continue with deficit spending.”

Council member John Lyda said after the interviews that the Council desired for its appointment to make an impact immediately — especially regarding the Board’s financial decisions. On Monday, April 7, its members unanimously appointed Kelley to the role.

Kelley will begin his five-year term in June, filling a vacancy that will be left by current member Paulette Pearson, who announced last month she would not seek reappointment.

Kelley is vice-president of Dunkin-Lewis, Inc., a national sales and marketing company based on Rocky Ridge Road. He is a resident of Lake Crest Circle and currently serves as a board member with Hoover Parks and Recreation Board. Council President Jack Wright said Kelley “shined in his interview and shined in his last 10 years on the Parks and Recreation Board.”

“I think he’s a good fit for the Board of Education,” Wright said. “He’ll bring leadership and a strong voice.”

During his interview, Kelley said he sought the appointment to the Board of Education because he enjoyed understanding and learning. He said he felt his expertise was suited to the role.

“There’s a lot of challenges, and this will be a lot of work,” he said during his interview.