- By Dan Veaner
- News
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The Lansing School Board conducted an organizational meeting July 14 to elect new officers and swear in the newly elected members. After three years as board President, Dan Brown nominated Bonita Lindberg for the post, and she was unanimously elected. Anne Drake was elected Vice President.
Outgoing Vice President Christine Iacobucci thanked Mr. Brown, quoting Thomas Jefferson: "The second office is honorable and easy, the first is but a splendid misery." She presented him with a packet of caffeinated coffee, a "Hello My Name is Dan" name badge "in case people forget him," and joke eyeball glasses so he can appear to be paying attention at future board meetings without really having to. Ms. Lindbergh thanked both Mr. Brown and Ms. Iacobucci for their three years of leading the board. Both will continue as regular board members.
It was also Glen Swanson's first official board meeting. Mr. Swanson won the seat Michael Herzog vacated in the last election. He was sworn in along with Bonita Lindberg and Tom Keane, who were re-elected for a new term.
New Board President Bonita Lindberg is sworn in as Glen Swanson and Sandy Dhimitri look on
The new board has plenty of work to do. In fact there were two multi-page agendas for Thursday's meeting. The "fast track" search for a new superintendent was at the top of the meeting. Corliss Kaiser has left the district, and Interim Superintendent Tiffany Phillips is holding the fort until a permanent superintendent can be hired. Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES District Superintendent Ellen O'Donnell reported that she currently has 28 applicants for the position. The board will meet to make the first cut to five or six candidates on July 28.
Interim Superintendent Tiffany Phillips with Interim Business Administrator Gary Alger
Also on the fast track is the bid to replace the Middle School boiler. A bid must be accepted soon if the boiler is to be installed in time for the coming school year.
Dennis Jones presented a report on the personnel audit he conducted for the district, and the board considered various policies including the Athletic Code, Code of Conduct and the Class Size Reduction policy.
Even the board meeting times were changed. Beginning in August board meetings will take place in the High School Library on the second and fourth Monday of each month. There will be only one meeting in October, on the 17th.
This school board has a lot to accomplish with the superintendent search being the most important. Board members are hopeful that the summer search will yield a permanent superintendent who will be able to begin at the beginning of the school year.
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