Plum School Board maintains current president, vice president

Mike Devine and Michael Caliguiri will remain Plum School Board president and vice president, respectively.

The board voted to keep both men in the top leadership roles at its Dec. 1 reorganization meeting.

Devine was reappointed by a 5-4 vote while Caliguiri received unanimous support.

“I’m happy that the majority of the board has faith that I can continue to lead this group of people,” Devine said. “I’m happy I have another chance to prove myself and build on what we started.”

Board member Scott Coulson also was nominated for president.

Those in favor of Devine remaining at the helm were Devine, Caliguiri, Adam Hill, Amy Wetmore and Joe Tommarello. Coulson and board members Michelle Stepnick, Scott Kolar and Angela Anderson wanted new leadership.

“I want to see unity happen, and I really was hoping for one person for the old board and one for the new board,” Stepnick said. “I just want communication and cooperation. There’s a lot of togetherness that doesn’t happen. … I think we can do better.”

Coulson has been on the board a few more years than Devine. Coulson did not return a call seeking comment.

Some board members were concerned about a lack of communication from leadership and that not every member was getting the same information.

Devine said he constantly works to ensure the board is on the same page.

“Everybody gets a phone call on everything that they need to be updated on,” Devine said.

Both Devine and Caliguiri are in their first four-year terms and coming off their inaugural year as president and vice president.

“I think both of us were really appreciative of our colleagues and their support,” Caliguiri said. “We’re looking forward to an opportunity to provide some leadership this year. Hopefully, we’re going to be able to do it on the back end of a crisis instead of a front end.”

Devine said he consults Caliguiri on all major decisions.

“Mike and I work very well together,” Devine said. “Whether he agrees with me or not, he takes the opposite side so we can talk things through and come to a sound agreement between the two of us and we can go from there.”

District Business Manager John Zahorchak was retained as board treasurer.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Dec. 22.