The Poughkeepsie City School District’s Board of Education has new leadership, a new member and an open seat.
The Board on July 2 held its annual reorganization meeting, where it elected Bob Creedon to serve as president this year. New member Eleanor Evans-Chiarenza was also sworn in and was promptly elected to serve as vice president.
The board was without Hon. Thomas O’Neill, who submitted his resignation the day before the meeting. The board will be able to either call a special election to fill the seat for the remainder of the term within 90 days of his resignation or it can appoint a qualified person to occupy the seat until it can be contested in the next regular election May 19.
In her comments at the end of the meeting, Board Member Fatimah Carmen Martinez Santiago acknowledged “his contributions and service” to the district, which was done with “such passion, such loyalty.” O’Neill was entering the final year of his second three-year term on the board and previously served as board president.“
Just because he resigned doesn’t mean that’s any less of his commitment to his service to this district,” she said. “This work is a lot. It’s really heavy. … We have our own health to take care of. Sometimes you have to make the really difficult decisions for your good health and your family to move on.
“He will be missed,” she said.
Creedon is likewise entering the final year of his second elected term as he takes the reins. He thanked Santiago for her year leading the board and O’Neill for his service before speaking about his new role.
“My mission is to listen,” Creedon said. “I have a tendency to say things in a different way, look at things in a different way. That does not mean I want my way to win. I just think there’s certain issues that are so complicated there isn’t 100% right answer. It’s always nuanced. Everything we do with kids and families and the community is nuanced. And hopefully I can live up to my goal of recognizing all the voices.
“As we move forward, I will do everything in my power to protect all our students,” he said.
Evans-Chiarenza was elected to a three-year term during the May 20 budget and board vote.
“My first meeting was interesting, to say the least,” she said, noting she is on the board because she “wants the best for our children. … I bring with me my experience and I’m just saying that I forward to this Poughkeepsie City School District being the best district out here. We’re here to make change.”
Learn more about the board, its functions, its goals and its meeting schedule at its webpage on the district website.