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Hartig to head School Board PDF Print E-mail
County News
Thursday, 18 November 2010 08:24
By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer
The Osceola County School Board welcomed its newly elected members Tuesday and voted in Cindy Hartig as its new chair and Marjorie Guillen-Melendez as vice chair.
Jay Wheeler, re-elected to a third term, was sworn in along with newcomers Barbara Horn, who replaced David Stone in district 4, and Tom Long, who replaced district 5’s John McKay.
After being sworn in, Wheeler outlined his first two terms on the board and stated specific goals for the future, such as raising the graduation rate to more than 95 percent. He said the current rate is about 83 percent.
“We need to give these kids the best start. Kids have to come first. Kids can’t help where they come from,” he said. “We’ve come a very long way and we’ve got a long way to go.”
Long vowed to “provide greater accountability, credibility and transparency” from the board.
Horn, flanked by her grandchildren, said, “Accountability needs to start with the School Board.”
The first item on the new board’s agenda at the meeting following the swearing-in ceremony, was to elect the chair and vice chair. Hartig was voted in 4 to 1, with Wheeler opposed. After the motion, Wheeler asked Hartig what her goals as chairman would be.
“To do the best I can for this district,” Hartig replied.
Guillen-Melendez was voted in as vice chair unanimously with the understanding that her husband, Julius Melendez, who is on active military duty and whom she replaced after being appointed to serve by Gov.
Charlie Christ, would become vice chair upon his return.
The members also changed School Board meeting times to keep them consistent – beginning at 5:30 p.m. – starting in January.
Superintendent Michael Grego said he is looking forward to working with the new board and that the meetings they’ve had in the last two weeks have gone well.
“I’m very excited about their desire to work together,” he said. “I look for great things from this board.”
Kathy Donato, president of the Osceola Classroom Teachers Association, said the organization is happy with the two new board members.
“I think both of them will bring a breath of fresh air and a new perspective,” she said. “We’re all here for the children.”
The next regular School Board meeting will be Dec. 7 at 5:45 p.m. at the Osceola County School District Administrative Complex on Bill Beck Boulevard in Kissimmee.
 

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