The Pike County Board of Education hosted an appreciation reception Monday for board member Herbert Reynolds who will step aside after 12 years of service to the children of the Pike County Schools.

Reynolds said Dr. Mark Bazzell, superintendent of Pike County Schools, and the board have made great strides over the years because of their ability to work together for the common good of all the schools in the county system.

“We have worked together to improve all of the campuses in the system,” Reynolds said. “We have two new school buildings at Pike County High School and the construction of the new gymnasium at Goshen High School is underway. When the gym is completed, the old gym will be utilized for the arts.”

Reynolds said he excited about the future of the arts in the Pike County school system.

“The arts are very important and Dr. Bazzell and the board recognize that,” he said. “The construction of the arts complex at Pike County High School will begin soon and that will be something that we can all take pride in.”

Reynolds said the academies provide opportunities for students who are interested in careers in business, finance and agriculture.

“The Business and Finance Academy at Pike County High School and the Agriculture Academy at Goshen High are plans that materialized because the superintendent and the board had visions and moved ahead with them,” he said. “I am honored to have been a part of the great strides that the Pike County School System has made since 2000. I will continue to support the Pike County Schools in way that I can.”

Bazzell said that Reynolds has been a dedicated and contributing member of the board for 12 years.

“He has done a great job,” Bazzell said. “In all that he has done, he has demonstrated that he cares about the students. He has served with distinction and he will be greatly missed.”