Published September 2, 2022 12:18PM
After six ballots, the Pleasant Valley School Board elected a new board member to replace Laura Jecker, who resigned in early August. A special meeting was held Thursday evening in the district conference room.
PV alumnus Robert Clarke was selected to fill the seat until December 2023, and can run for the 2023 election and remain in the position for the final two years of Jecker’s term. , was elected to a second term in November 2021.
School Board President Susan Cressge and all of the School Board’s Trustees thanked the six candidates who applied for seats. Cressge welcomed the remaining candidates to run in the 2023 election and said. Six seats will be vacant on the board, including the seat currently held by Clarke.
Clarke’s 20 years of experience in teaching tipped the hat in his favor. Teresa Greggo, who nominated him for the seat, said she felt Clark would bring his love of teaching and professional experience there to his school district.
“I feel like I can have both,” Greggo said. “I truly believe that Robert Clarke has the experience. He has worked with students, administrators and staff. I have a child in … Here, there is experience and heart.
Clark has lived in the Pleasant Valley School District all his life, except for leaving the area to go to college after the conference, where he has worked as a school adviser on technology. Member of the 1998 class He currently has children in the school district and is interested in school board meetings.
“I’m thrilled,” Clark said of being elected to the school board. It’s an insight. I think I can help move PV forward.” Second place went to Alice Wheelis, a parent of children from her school district. Wheelis was nominated by school board director Melanie Zipp, who was interviewed online via her platform because she was unable to attend the meeting.
School Board Director Todd Cressge nominated Peter DeSanto. DeSanto is also a parent with children attending school districts. Other nominees were Michael McMurtry, Matthew Roselli and Matthew Walters.
Each candidate was individually interviewed by the school board and asked the same six questions. We were given 20 minutes to answer the questions, but most candidates finished in about 15 minutes.
Above: Candidates for the Pleasant Valley Board of Education gathered in groups in the district conference room after their interviews to wait to hear who would be selected. Seated in the chair from left to right are Matthew Walters, Michael McMurtry, Robert Clarke and Matthew Roselli.
Left: New Pleasant Valley Board of Education Director Robert Clark will be sworn into office Thursday night.Christine Porter/Times News
