Penn Hills school board gets new members and vice president, retains current president
Newly elected Penn Hills School Board members were sworn in, and their president and vice president selected at a reorganization meeting Dec. 4.
Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Philip Ignelzi administered the oath of office to Rob Marra, Erin Vecchio, Jackie Blakey-Tate, Meryl Thomas and Elizabeth Rosemeyer.
They were the top five out of six candidates vying for four-year seats in November.
Vecchio and Marra were the only two incumbents who sought reelection this year.
The board voted 6-3 in favor of Vecchio remaining board president for the third consecutive year. She was nominated by Evelyn Herbert.
Marra received three votes for president. One from himself, Thomas and Rosemeyer, who nominated him.
Vecchio, Herbert, Michael Tauro, Yusef Thompson Sr., Blakey-Tate and Kristopher Wiegand voted to maintain board leadership.
“I’m continuing to keep this district moving forward, and I thank the people for supporting and believing in me,” Vecchio said.
Thompson was unanimously selected as vice president. There were no other nominations. It will be his first year in that appointed position.
“We have new members, and we have a great team,” Thompson said. “They always say that change is good. With the newly elected members and the new officers, I believe that we are going to continue to move the district forward like we have been doing. Erin Vecchio, for the past few years, has been able to get several million dollars from (state Sen.) Jay Costa (D-Forest Hills) to make sure that things are in order.
“With her as president, I am sure that will continue. The best is yet to come. We are definitely turning things around and we will continue to turn things around in the right direction.”
Thompson said he’s dedicating his service as vice president in memory of Arthur Singleton Cheeks, a fellow member of the international Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
Cheeks, 47, of Chicago recently passed away and was laid to rest in Kosciusko, Miss.
“Our cause speeds nobly on its way,” said Thompson. That line was part of a fraternal hymn.
The next school board voting meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at Linton Middle School.
Michael DiVittorio is a TribLive reporter covering general news in Western Pennsylvania, with a penchant for festivals and food. He can be reached at mdivittorio@triblive.com.
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