Elias appointed to LH School Board
The Laurel Highlands School Board in special session Tuesday voted to appoint former school director William Elias to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of director Edward George. Ten candidates were interviewed for the position, including another former board member, Shirley Kefover.
Five board members, Angelo Giachetti, Beverly Beal, Curtis Jacobs, Tom Vernon and Lyn Andaloro, were present for all of the interviews. The remaining directors, James Tobal, Larry Zebley and Norma Santore, did not participate in the interviews.
Vernon made the initial motion to appoint Kefover to the position, but the motion failed on a 4-4 vote, with Vernon, Jacobs, Beal and Giachetti voting in favor and Santore, Zebley, Andaloro and Tobal voting against.
A second motion by Vernon presented long-time Laurel Highlands teacher and principal Melvyn Sepic for the position. Sepic headed St. Mary School in Uniontown for 10 years after retiring from the district in 2000. That vote also failed on a 4-4 vote, with the same people voting for and against.
School director Larry Zebley then presented Elias for the position. Vernon initially passed on the vote, but then cast his vote for Elias.
“Due to the fact that I have made statements that I do not want this decision to go back to the courts and Mr. Elias has experience with the board, I vote yes,” Vernon said.
Beal and Giachetti voiced objections that three board members did not participate in the interview process.
“That tells me you already had your minds made up,” Beal said.
Andaloro, who was present for all the interviews, explained her vote.
“There is only one position and there were excellent candidates. I had to go with someone who knew exactly what is going on in the district right now,” Andaloro said. “I fully encourage all of the candidates to run next year. So often it is hard to find members of the community interested in running.”
All of the candidates for the appointment had said they were considering running for one of the five four-year seats or the one two-year seat that will be open on the board next year.
Interviewed for the position Tuesday in addition to Kefover and Sepic were James Frederick, Dalton Patterson and Joyce Santore.