Buchanan appointed to DBOE

A man with 10 years’ experience on the Daleville Board of Education is the person appointed to fill an unexpired term on the board.

Appointed by the Daleville City Council to fill the one unexpired year of Barbara Davis’s term, Johnny Buchanan was re-introduced at the DBOE meeting June 30.

“I am not a stranger to this board,” Buchanan said with a smile. “I served two terms from 2007 through 2017. This begins my 11th year.”

Buchanan retired from civil service as a GS-11 in 2018 after serving 28 years as an environmentalist at Fort Rucker. He came to the area after spending 10 years in the Air Force, attaining the rank of captain.

Buchanan said that he hopes that his years of experience serving on the school board previously will help provide the leadership needed to continue the legacy of Daleville Schools. “I promise to always be transparent, provide resources, safety and an environment conducive to learning for all our students,” Buchanan said. “I will represent the Daleville School Board and students to the greatest possible degree.”

Buchanan said that during his decade of service on the DBOE, property was purchased and a $5 million gym was built at Windham Elementary School.

“Other improvements were a $275,000 fire suppression system at WES and a $75,000 shed on the playground at WES to aid the students during the time that the new gym was being built,” he added.

“The high school was not left out as we did a lighting upgrade throughout the building as well as in the high school gym,” Buchanan said. “We did an upgrade of the football field, to include upgrading the bleachers, concession stands and a new lighting system with concrete light poles replacing the wood poles.”

Buchanan said that during his previous term he worked hard to maintain proficiency in school board training. “I attained Master Boardman status within six years and was able to maintain that status throughout my appointed term,” he said. “With approximately 700 school board members statewide, less than 10 percent reach the status of Master Boardman.”

In 2015 Buchanan was selected to serve on the statewide school board. “This board was the precedent of virtual school as we know it today,” he said. “Virtual school was a mainstay in getting us through the COVID-19 Pandemic when brick and mortar schools could not be used.”

Buchanan said that student achievement was rated “superior” during his previous board tenure. “Daleville needs good leadership to continue this legacy," he said.

“If the kids graduate unprepared, that is our fault.”