In 1976, John Barnes wasn't thinking about running for public office. However, when a vacancy opened on the Currituck County Board of Education, his name was mentioned as a replacement to serve the remainder of the

vacant term.

File photo (ENLARGE)

John Barnes (left), vice chairman of the Currituck Board of Education, speaks at Moyock Elementary School in Moyock, in February, 2005.

Why not serve? Barnes asked himself. After all, he had children who at the time were attending Currituck public schools. Barnes

accepted the offer, and 32 years later — after having been re-elected to the school board several times — he is the state's longest serving school board member.

According to the N.C. School Boards Association, Barnes is currently the longest-serving school board member in the state. He also is one of only four school board members to reach the 30-year mark.

"It doesn't feel any different," said Barnes, 73. "I didn't know I was the senior member until someone told me."

After retiring from the civil service as a foreman at U.S. Navy Fleet Combat Training Center Dam Neck in Virginia Beach, Va., Barnes has used his maintenance background to become the board's construction and facilities expert. He said he has never hesitated to provide guidance and advice when asked by fellow school board members.

Mary Ellen Maxwell, who retired from the school board two years ago after serving alongside Barnes for 24 years, can attest to Barnes' dedication and commitment to Currituck's students.

"I think he was a very prepared school board member," Maxwell said Thursday. "He attended all the meetings. He was very much an advocate for every child."

Currently the board's vice chairman, Barnes had been chairman on and off for more than a decade.

Barnes, who lives on Knotts Island, said in his 32 years on the board one issue that both the school system and the county have had to contend with is growth. He said he is proud of the work that has been done to maintain quality facilities. When he first started, he said only one school had air conditioning. Now, all of them do.

In addition, Barnes has seen the number of schools in the district continue to grow. Moyock Middle School and the current Currituck County High School were added during his tenure. Those schools will be joined next year by Jarvisburg Elementary, Shawboro Elementary and The J.P. Knapp Early College High School.

Another change Barnes has witnessed over the years is technology and how it is used in the classrooms to teach students.

"The technology in our schools has changed considerably," Barnes said. "We have an excellent school system. The teachers are great."

Barnes, who has filed for re-election this year, said the decision to remain on the board was not automatic.

"Each time I sort of said I'll look at it real good," he said. "Most likely, this will be my last term."

The upcoming school year will mark the first time in years that he will not have children or grandchildren in the school system. The last of his grandchildren graduated Currituck High in 2007 and 2008.

Ramona Miller, board development manager for the school boards association, said it is impossible to tell where Barnes' consecutive service streak ranks in North Carolina history. She said the association only recently began tracking board members' tenure.