Board chooses 2 to fill spots

By Sherris Moreira-Byers
Herald Staff Writer

After two hours interviewing seven candidates, and four roll call votes, West Middlesex school directors on Monday filled the two openings on the board left by the departure of Karen S. Redmon and Raymond C. Lucich Jr. last month.

The two directors quit after school board President Jonathan Fister yelled at Lucich concerning a January committee meeting Lucich was unaware of.

The board chose Connie Jane David, Bedford Road, and Louis V. Colella, Clubhouse Drive, both of Shenango Township.

Mrs. David received five out of six votes on the first poll, and Colella received five out of six votes on the fourth polling. The seventh board member, Harmon Fennell, is out of town. “This is a really tough decision. Every one was fantastic,” said director Tom Hubert. The other candidates were Douglas James Fette; Philip J. Stanton; R. Scott Gill; Roxanne Atterholt; and Gregg K. Dogan.

“This decision was very difficult, because all the candidates were very qualified,” said director Warden “Buck” Burger.

Candidates were asked about metal detectors in school; if any relatives are employed by the school district; proficiency testing; high school athletics; and time constraints in attending meetings.

Mrs. David said athletics would “be a tremendous benefit to academics,” and that the proficiency tests are “important” but in raising the scores “the solution is to look outward to the whole community, and look at the curriculum.”

Colella said concerning metal detectors that “children’s safety is most important, but we should focus on the reason why we have to talk about it,” and added, “if it’s the most cost-effective way, then I’m all for it.”Colella, a C.P.A. and the chief financial officer for Goldstein Furniture Company in Sharon, said he’d like to share his financial expertise in helping the school board stretch district money, especially with upcoming renovations of the elementary schools.

“I’d be grateful to be of assistance to the taxpayers and especially the students,” he said. Mrs. David’s experience includes 20 years as a teacher at Mathews Local School District, Vienna. “With my expertise in education, I may be able to give insight,” she said.

After the meeting, superintendent Al Jones said, “I think we’re working towards a positive team approach.”

Colella and David will be sworn in Monday at the school board’s regular monthly meeting.

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