Clark Board members honor longtime trustee Tom Lewis after his death

The Clark Public Schools Board of Education opened a public meeting with extended tributes to Tom Lewis, a longtime board member who died Aug. 15. Members described Lewis as a mentor, a community pillar and a tireless advocate for students and families. The board said it will work on an appropriate commemoration for Lewis.

Board members said Lewis served the district and surrounding communities for decades and that his work included quiet acts of support for students and families. Several speakers recounted that Lewis arranged holiday gift baskets and gift-card donations, helped individual students find resources and supported scholarship and mentorship efforts. Board members said he was instrumental in rebuilding the district’s preschool program and often made himself available to colleagues and constituents.

The remarks included personal memories from multiple board members who said Lewis led without seeking recognition and that his absence would be deeply felt by the district. One board member said Lewis “poured his heart into every role he took on,” and others described him as a storyteller and a motivator who used his relationships to help students stay in school and succeed.

The board announced it is working on a formal way to honor Lewis’s contributions and will provide details later.

Less-critical meeting items followed the memorial remarks, including routine approvals and committee reports.