Lake-Lehman School Board appoints Jean Sayre to fill vacancy

LEHMAN TWP. — It took two votes at Monday’s monthly meeting, but the eight current members of the Lake-Lehman School Board picked Jean Sayre to fill the seat vacated with the resignation of Alfred DeAngelis last month.

Sayre was the second of three candidates to give an opening statement and field four questions read by Superintendent James McGovern. Along with answering the questions, each of the three who had expressed an interest in getting the job gave a two-minute opening statement.

The questions were about board responsibility, the biggest challenges facing public education, ways to improve academic performance and staff development, and making choices like raising taxes or cutting programs.

Sayre noted that she has helped the district do a variety of things in the past, including helping restore the education foundation. She said her varied experiences in health care, including running her own business, would be valuable assets to the board.

She said top responsibilities of the board include setting good School Board policies, fiscal management, finding creative solutions to increasingly complex problems, and being open minded to all options while exercising “critical thinking” in the process.

The two other candidates were David Fedor and Jennifer Vigorito. All three were nominated on the first vote, with Sayre getting four votes and Fedor and Vigorito getting two each. The board decided to accept nominations a second time, and all three were again nominated. But on the second vote Kevin Carey and Rob Wojtowicz switched their votes from Vigorito to Sayre. Drew Salko and David Paulaskas voted for Fedor both times.

The meeting began with members of the upcoming production of Beauty and the Beast sang a number, in costume as the narrator, Chip, Cogsworth, Bell and Lumiere — complete with glowing candle flames for hands.

During the voting session the board also appointed assistant coaches: Miranda Parry for varsity girls volleyball at $2,115, Mary Anne Maxfield for varsity cross country at $1,202, Paul Callahan for varsity girls soccer at $2,741, Devin Michalec for junior high boys soccer at $2,741, Courtney Thomas for varsity field hockey at $4,229, and Janine Kasarda for junior high field hockey at $3,513. Deanna Dragon was appointed for junior high cheerleading at $1,762.