Cherry Hill resident Pat McCargo summed up the impact outgoing Cherry Hill board of education member Seth Klukoff had when he joined the board in May 2008.
She said prior meetings were at times chaotic, with members of the public and board members bickering during meetings. She said everything changed for the better after Klukoff was elected.
“You were always able to bring everyone back into focus,” McCargo said.
Klukoff, a former board president and member for six years, was honored with a plaque for his service at last week’s board of education meeting. Klukoff is leaving the board after he decided over the summer not to run for a third term.
Board members and residents offered their thanks to Klukoff during the meeting, citing his leadership and ability to put education issues into perspective as two skills he brought to the board. Board member Sherrie Cohen said Klukoff stabilized the board when he was chosen to serve as president in May 2010.
“We’ve had a unified front going forward and it’s because of what you set up as president,” Cohen said.
Superintendent Maureen Reusche said Klukoff put the school district on the right path with his involvement in strategic planning, where he was formerly a committee chairman. He was also praised for his work in previous negotiations with the Cherry Hill Education Association.
Cherry Hill Education Foundation president and former board of education member Eleanor Strofman said she was not surprised to see the positive effect Klukoff had on the board. Strofman and Klukoff both served on the foundation’s board together prior to Klukoff joining the board of education.
“I’m glad that your dedication, communication and hard work did not go unnoticed,” Strofman said.
Klukoff said the board and administration have made a lot of progress with improving the school district in multiple facets. He said he was proud to be a part of the effort.
“Our schools today are significantly better than they were 25 to 30 years ago,” Klukoff said. “They’ve been very lucky to have this group of volunteers and parents on the board.”
Klukoff’s involvement with the school district won’t end with the conclusion of his board of education term. Strofman invited Klukoff to rejoin the foundation as a board member.
Newly elected board member Lisa Saidel will be sworn in to fill Klukoff’s seat during the board of education’s reorganization meeting on Jan. 6.
