The city of Oxford will appoint a new school board member this March.

After eight years on the Oxford School District School Board, Board President Whitney Byars completes her second term at the end of February this year and will not seek reappointment.

Byars said the time has gone by fast, but she has witnessed a lot of the district’s growth.

During her time, she tried to improve communication between schools and parents as well as parent-teacher relations.

“I was always very involved,” Byars said.

Before applying for a position on the school board, Byars had preciously served as president of Oxford High School’s Parent Teacher Organization for multiple years.

As OHS PTO president, she also volunteered in and out of the classroom while she had two children attending school in the district.

“I saw it as way to continue helping the schools” Byars said.

Byars currently has one child attending OHS as a junior and a child who is a freshman at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Mayor Pat Patterson praised Byars as a dedicated parent and school board member during her time in OSD.

Patterson said Byars was an intelligent and civically responsible addition to the school board.

“Whitney Byars has served this community tirelessly,” Patterson said.

The mayor and Board of Alderman will begin accepting applications and resumes for Byars’ position. The position should be filled by March by the city.

Byars will continue to support the school and volunteer her service. She is involved with the Oxford Charger Athletic Booster Club as the membership chair.

The organization raises funds to purchase items for athletic teams that the regular budget does not cover.

Additionally, Byars accepted a board of director’s position on the United Way of Oxford and Lafayette County last month.

Byars said she is sad to leave, but she will continue to support the school district as she has always done.