[September 13, 2011] Three newcomers take seat on Rochester school board Tweet ROCHESTER, Sep 13, 2011 (Beaver County Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The reconfiguration of the Rochester Area School Board, expected to take place with the November general election, accelerated into September as three 2011 candidates were appointed Monday to fill vacancies created by resignations. The newest board members bring resumes thick with recent classroom experience: one is a teacher and the other two are recent Rochester graduates. Holly Zeigler, a New Brighton teacher, married to a Rochester teacher, with two children attending Rochester schools, was the first person added to the board. Aaron Brant, a 2011 Rochester graduate, was the next person added to the board, and he immediately nominated Cody Bailey, a 2010 Rochester graduate. Zeigler, Brant and Bailey will all appear on the November ballot. "I was a little nervous about coming onto the board before the election, but I figured why not do it if it means we can start making improvements now," Bailey said. "Together, (the reconfigured board) can get this school turned around," Brant said. "We can fix things." Four Rochester board members have resigned in the past three months: Nick Zarnich resigned in June, vice president Carol Yakish resigned in August, and board president Evelyn Reda and treasurer John Martino resigned in September. Marian Acon, also a candidate on the November ballot, was appointed to replace Yakish in August. Superintendent Carolyn Wilkovich said neither Reda nor Martino offered explanations with their letters of resignation, and neither returned phone messages Monday evening from the Times. The evolution of the board included the election of three new officers: Betty Heim was elected president after she and Mark Murtha each drew three votes from fellow board members, and Murtha withdrew from contention. Acon was appointed vice president and George Bauer was appointed treasurer. The evolution of the district includes a business manager vacancy created by resignation and a new high school principal for the second consecutive year. "It's been hard," Heim said. "We have a long road ahead of us." Ziegler is looking forward to the opportunity to reshape the district profile. "I couldn't take the madness anymore," she said. "I figured if I want to make a difference, now's the time. I care about this school district." ___ (c)2011 the Beaver County Times (Beaver, Pa.) Visit the Beaver County Times (Beaver, Pa.) at www.timesonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]