Those sworn-in include returning board members Leigh Ann Erlanger and Melissa DeClementi, as well as newly elected board member Anthony Ruttler, Jr.
District Business Administrator and Board Secretary Robert Wachter, Jr. opened the meeting, and then swore in returning board members Leigh Ann Erlanger and Melissa DeClementi, as well as newly elected board member Anthony Ruttler, Jr.
As there were three seats open on the board this year, and all three individuals were the only candidates on the ballot, each board member ran unopposed and easily won the race for their new, three-year terms.
At the meeting, Wachter read the official results of the November election: Erlanger received 11,893 votes, DeClementi received 11,860 votes, and Ruttler received 11,283 votes.
Wachter noted there were also 225 votes for a personal choice.
Ruttler is replacing former board member Maureen Sojka, who chose not to run for reelection in the November contest.
The board previously honored Sojka for her service at its last meeting in December.
In addition to swearing in the new members at last week’s meeting, the board also named its new president and vice president for the year.
For 2019, the board selected board member Diane Blair as president and Scott Jones as vice president. Blair previously served as the board’s vice president for the past two years, as the BOE traditionally selects the same president and vice president for two consecutive years.
Board member Marc Jones, who served as the BOE’s president for the past two years, could not attend last week’s meeting.
In addition to a few other items of regular business, the meeting saw the board pass its 2019 schedule of regular meetings.
This year’s meetings are as follows:
- Jan. 22 at Hartford Upper Elementary School
- Feb. 26 at Hartford Upper Elementary School
- March 26 at Hartford Upper Elementary School
- April 30 Hartford Upper Elementary School
- May 28 at Harrington Middle School
- June 11 at the district Administrative Offices
- July 23 at the district Administrative Offices
- Aug. 27 at the district Administrative Offices
- Sept. 24 at Hartford Upper Elementary School
- Oct. 15 at Hartford Upper Elementary School
- Nov. 19 at Hartford Upper Elementary School
- Dec. 17 at Hartford Upper Elementary School
The board has also scheduled its 2020 reorganization meeting for Jan. 7, 2020, at the district Administrative Offices.
All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.
According to district officials, the majority of regular meetings will be taking place at Hartford this year, as opposed to the district’s Administrative Offices, to more easily accommodate students and families when the board holds various award ceremonies.
