SPRINGFIELD — Beth Helmly isn’t ready for her lengthy association with education to end.
A retired principal with more than 30 years of experience in the education field, Helmly is seeking a second term as the District 4 representative on the Effingham County Board of Education.
“I’ve enjoyed working with the board and superintendent and look forward, hopefully, to working a few more years with them,” Helmly said.
Helmly said she has learned a great deal during her current four-term. She emerged from a three-candidate field in 2015 with 50.12 percent of the vote, avoiding a runoff by one ballot.
“I still have a few things I would like to see addressed,” she said. “Overall, I think we are a good school system and we’ve got really, really good people in it, which makes it great — from the custodians to the teachers, principals and the board staff. We are very fortunate.
“The people I know who work in the school system are doing it for the children — and that’s the main criteria. That’s the only criteria for me,” Helmly said.