New Members Officially Join District 61 Board

The on Tuesday swore in four members—two new and two incumbents—who were elected during the April 5 consolidated election. The board then held an election of its own, voting officers into two-year terms.

and  filled the vacancies left by longtime board members Katherine Fujiura and Matt Mostowik, neither of whom sought re-election. Gaspari received 22.64 percent of the votes in the election, while Kiwiet received 22.08 percent. 

, with 20.77 percent of the vote, and , with 20.65 percent of the vote, retained their seats on the board.

Rzeszutko was elected board president after member Mike Overmann nominated him as the sole candidate for the office.

“Bob is a career educator. He understands public education issues,” Overmann said.

Rzeszutko has been a public school teacher for 33 years, according to the candidate profile he submitted to Patch.

Claudia Manley then nominated Overmann to serve as vice president. He was also elected without opposition. Rzeszutko nominated Mare E. Chiaro, the current board secretary, to retain her office. Manley nominated herself. 

The board held a brief discussion of the two candidates, during which Manley said she felt she would do a better job communicating with the community. 

“The secretary is really just a figurehead,” responded Chiaro, explaining that most of the communication with the community is done through other means. She said that she writes up briefs for the benefit of the board as a courtesy, not as an official secretarial duty.

Chiaro was re-elected with four votes. Two board members voted for Manley and one abstained.

Before departing members Fujiura and Mostowik left the meeting, the board honored them for their service. 

“Thank you for your candidness, your passion and your persistence,” Rzeszutko told Mostowik.

Former Supt. Chip Johnson also was on hand to bid farewell to Mostowik and Fujiura.

“[Fujiura] always put what was best for the kids No. 1 in everything she did on this board of education,” Johnson said.

The freshmen board members will go through orientation Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.