Reorganization Wrapup

From the BCCT. No changes in Morrisville.

Same headline, different day. No change in Morrisville...

School boards elect new officers

By JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times

State law requires all governing bodies in Pennsylvania's 501 public school districts to elect officers during the first week of December for the next year. Seven of the Lower Bucks County school boards reorganized Dec. 1. Council Rock's board reorganized Thursday night. Bucks County Technical High School's joint board committee will choose its officers during its Dec. 16 meeting. Here are the results of last week's reorganization meetings:

BENSALEM

The Bensalem school board voted 8-0 to appoint Harry Kramer to another term as its president.

The board split 5-3 in its selection of a new vice president.

Eugene Rothenberg was appointed vice president as he and Dr. Lewis Brandt, Kramer, Heather Nicholas and Stephen Nowmos voted in favor of the nomination.

Carol McGuire, Rose Jacobs and Carol Jones voted in favor of McGuire filling the post.

The board also split 5-3 to reappoint Begley, Carlin and Mandio as its solicitor.

The three no voters, as they did during the 2007 reorganization meeting, suggested the district's governing body get annual bids for the post instead of just reappointing the longtime solicitor.

James Bodnar did not attend the meeting.

BRISTOL

The Bristol school board voted 6-0 to appoint David Chichilitti to another term as board president.

The board, in separate 6-0 votes, also decided to reappoint John D'Angelo as vice president and James Petrino as treasurer.

Board member Mary Jane Paglione arrived at the meeting after the officers were selected, according to meeting records. Steve Cullen and Louis Persichetti Jr. did not attend the meeting.

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP

Bristol Township school board members voted 6-3 to elect W. Earl Bruck as president.

Bruck, who succeeds board member Stacey Pressley as president, joined Helen Cini, Frederick Black, Michele Haines, Sean Norman and Bruce Prendergast Jr. in approving the nomination.

Pressley, Angela Nober and Stacy Gerlach voted against the appointment.

The board also split 7-2 in its appointment of Cini as its vice president, with Pressley and Nober voting against. She succeeds Nober.

CENTENNIAL

Thomas Reinboth replaced Michael Monaghan as board president. Cynthia Mueller remains the vice president and Betty Huf will stay as the assistant secretary. All votes were unanimous.

Monaghan said he did not seek another year as president because of recent health problems. Reinboth commended Monaghan on his year of service as president.

Monaghan represents Region 3, which includes Warminster west of York Road, plus the Speedway section. Reinboth represents Region 2, which includes Ivyland and Warminster east of York Road except the Speedway section.

Traditionally, the regional school board alternates its leadership between Warminster and Upper Southampton every two years.

COUNCIL ROCK

The Council Rock school board unanimously approved Paul Anagnostakos as the next president. Board member Jerold S. Grupp participated in Thursday night's meeting via telephone.

Board members then voted 6-3 for Bernadette Heenan to fill the vice president's seat. Board members Kyle McKessy, Wendi Thomas and Richard Abramson voted for Grupp.

The governing body also approved 8-0 the firm of Eastburn and Gray to continue as the school board's solicitor. Board member Patricia Vaccaro-Sexton was not present for the solictor's vote.

MORRISVILLE

Joseph Kemp nominated Robin Reithmeyer to be president during the reorganization meeting but Kemp and Reithmeyer lost that vote 7-2.

Then, in separate votes, the board appointed the current officers to another year of service, with William Hellmann as president, Alfred Radosti as vice president, Marlys Mihok as secretary and Brenda Worob as treasurer. Kemp and Reithmeyer voted against Hellmann's and Radosti's appointments.

The board also voted unanimously to retain Michael Fitzpatrick as its solicitor.

NESHAMINY

The school board elected Ritchie Webb, in a 5-4 vote, to succeed Rick Eccles as president. Board members William O'Connor, Bill Spitz, Irene Boyle and Joseph Blasch voted no.

Several motions to appoint Frank Koziol, Kim Koutsouradis or Joseph Blasch as vice president failed. Koziol served as vice president for the past year.

The board will try again to elect its vice president during its 7 p.m. meeting Monday night at Herbert Hoover Elementary School on Trenton Road in Middletown, officials said.

The board reappointed Begley, Carlin and Mandio as its solicitor in a 6-3 vote. Blasch, O'Connor and Spitz voted against that firm.

Board members also approved the PA Open Records Law Act 3-2008 Session.

PENNSBURY

All Pennsbury school board officers retained their former positions.

Gregory Lucidi will serve another year as president, Arlene Gordon is vice president and Richard Johnson is the board secretary.

Compiled by education reporters Joan Hellyer, Rachel Canelli and Manasee Wagh