New member appointed to Hempfield school board

The Hempfield Area School Board has a new member.

The board Monday voted 7-1 to appoint Mike Alfery, 49, to replace Chris Rossman, who submitted his resignation in June because he relocated for work. Paul Adams voted against the appointment.

Alfery is a candidate in the school board race in November. He won both the Democratic and Republican nominations in the May primary when he received 13% of the votes on the Republican ballot and more than 10% on the Democratic ballot.

“I accepted the nomination because I think it’s a perfect time to partake and learn,” Alfery said in an email to the Tribune-Review. “The board has a light agenda through the end of the year, and I plan to use the next five months to familiarize myself with the internal workings of the board and administration.”

During the May race, Alfery said he was running to remove politics from sports, be a voice for students, teachers and taxpayers, update aging buildings and keep taxes low.

The board had 30 days to fill the vacancy, according to school policies, after Rossman’s resignation went into effect June 23.

Turning to the highest vote-getters during the May primary election, Sonya Brajdic, board president, consulted with candidates Alfery, Tony Bompiani and Vince DeAugustine. Bompiani, who previously sat on the board, said experience would be better served to the other candidates and DeAugustine expressed interest but asked the board to consult Alfery.

Alfery officially started his term during Monday’s public meeting. His appointment to the board will expire Dec. 4.

Due to Rossman’s resignation, two more candidates, one each appointed by the Republican and Democratic parties, will be added to the November ballot. Whoever is elected will serve the remaining two years of Rossman’s term, through December 2021.

Adams expressed his intent to run for the position after he failed to win the Democratic and Republican nomination in the May election. Adams received almost 9% of the votes on the Republican ballot and more than 10% on the Democratic ballot.

Candidates running for Rossman’s seat will join cross-filed candidates Bompiani, DeAugustine, Alfery and incumbent Jeanne Smith along with Republican candidate Jennifer Bretz and Democratic incumbent David Iwig.