Riverview School Board members have appointed a high school alum as their newest colleague.
Elected officials unanimously voted Aug. 29 to have Oakmont resident Antonio Paris fill the vacant seat of Tara Jean Schaaf of Verona.
Schaaf resigned Aug. 1 to pursue a new job as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, doing contract work at various hospitals.
“Tara will be missed on the board, but Antonio is a very positive addition to the board,” said board vice president Brian Hawk via email.
Jeanine Hurt-Robinson, board president, echoed those sentiments.
“(Tara) truly was an asset to the board. We will miss her and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors,” Hurt-Robinson said. “Board members expressed that Mr. Paris would offer a fresh voice and more diversity to the board. As a graduate of the district, his involvement in many extracurricular activities, enthusiasm and desire to serve our communities made Antonio the candidate the board unanimously voted for to fill the vacated seat. We welcome Mr. Paris and look forward to working with him as a member of the board of directors.
Schaaf was appointed to the board in 2018 and was among the winners in the 2019 election.
Her term expires at the end of next year. Paris would have to run in the 2023 election to keep the seat.
Paris, 28, was selected from among 10 candidates. He graduated from Riverview in 2012. During high school, he was part of yearbook, key club, cheerleading, track and field, Model United Nations and musical, among other extracurriculars.
“I was really interested in giving back,” Paris said about serving on the board. “I’ve gotten a lot from the community. I think I’m an example of what a Riverview education can look like as far as my progression in school and in my personal achievements. If I can help make that a reality for even more students, then that would make me happy.”
Paris said his youth and having been out of the district only 10 years will allow him to have a different perspective.
“When I’m making decisions or voting, I can also come to the table with a lighter heart and clearer head even during discussion,” he said. “Hopefully, because of that I can help board members see both sides (of an issue).”
Paris has a bachelor’s in sociology and anthropology from Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio, a master’s in law from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and his juris doctor degree from Ave Maria School of Law.
He works as a law clerk and new associate hire for Pittsburgh-based Burns White LLC.
Paris toured the high school and district grounds with Superintendent Neil English on Aug. 31.
“It’s almost as if I haven’t left,” Paris said. “It does feel that I have left in a lot of respects, the fact that I’m an adult and not a student. It’s still mind blowing. It feels like I’m almost back at home. There were definitely improvements at the high school, and some teachers are in different rooms. I know my way around and it doesn’t feel like a foreign place to me.”
English said looks forward to what Paris will bring to the board and district.
“I think the board made a great choice,” English said. “I believe he will be a great board member and will fit perfectly into his role as the board representative for student life.”
Paris will chair the board’s student life committee. He plans to get more acclimated to his position before introducing any initiatives.
“I want to take it all in and see what is needed before I start saying, ‘This is what I would like to do,’” Paris said. “Of course, I may have ideas. You don’t create a holistic and actual sustainable plan if you’re not looking at it from the whole view, rather than just the view that you’re bringing.”
