Board Briefs: Board Organization

Board Briefs is a newsletter-style overview of the highlights of the Board of Education's discussion and action. You can find the meeting agenda online here, and look for minutes of the meeting to be posted after they are approved at the next BOE meeting (May 17, 2021).

District 34 Board of Education meetings will be held in person, following health and safety protocols, including mask and distancing. Meeting attendees must complete a self assessment before entering the meeting.

Due to construction and the need to move staff offices, the meeting room in the Administration building (the previous location for Board meetings) is unavailable. Therefore, Board meetings will be held in school buildings. The April 27 organizational meeting was held at Westbrook. The May 17 meeting will be held at Springman. After that time, a more permanent school location will be announced.

The Board confirmed the results of the April 7, 2021 election. New member Dr. James Dolan joined the returning Board members to take the oath of office.

The Board then elected officers:

President: Scott Nelson
Vice President: John Heggie
Secretary: Mike Korman

The Board also confirmed Katie Siegel as the recording secretary for the Board.

The community is encouraged to attend Board of Education meetings, and contribute during the community participation periods. In all regular Board of Education meetings, the Board follows a set agenda that include two opportunities for community participation.

In the first opportunity for community participation, Rich Hughes, District 34 parent, expressed his wish to remove the mask requirement for students.

In the second opportunity for community comments, Karen Hitzeman, community member, expressed her appreciation for the service of all Board members, and for the service of Natalie Jachtorowycz as Board president.

Board President Scott Nelson expressed the appreciation of the Board for the service of former Board Member Katie Jones and the service of Natalie Jachtorowycz in her two-year term as Board President, Mr. Nelson shared that Mrs. Jachtorowycz stepped up to lead the Board knowing the District was facing a referendum, and led through the pandemic.