President Walker, Vice President Cary Take Reins at BOE Reorg

The Board of Education welcomed a new president, vice president and member during Tuesday night's reorganization meeting.

Mitch Slater took the oath as the school board's newest member during a ceremony preceding the annual reorganization meeting. Ginny Leiz and Julia Walker were sworn in to new terms on the board during the ceremony. Following the ceremony, the board elected Walker to the president's office and Ann Cary as the new vice president. Slater, Leiz and Walker were elected during last Tuesday's election.

During an almost five minute nominating speech, Leiz, who has served as board president for the past three years, praised Walker's abilities and service over the past three years as the board's vice president. She noted that Walker has spent her seven years on the board developing strategies to policy questions along with synthesizing complex data during board discussions.

"Julia has the keenest listening skills I have ever encountered," Leiz said. "This year I will add that she has one of the sharpest minds I know."

Leiz cited Walker's service this past year as finance committee chairwoman, where she led the panel in developed a $89.3 million school budget, including a response to Gov. Chris Christie's $4.22 million cut in state education aid to Westfield. She noted that Walker is a former policy committee chairwoman and has been involved in contract negotiations with the various bargaining units representing school district employees. Leiz also mentioned Walker's work as a member of the board's committee handling relations with the town government.

"Julia is a problem solver," Leiz said. "Her ability to provide exstemperanious summary statements is legend."

During a brief speech following her unanimous election, Walker returned the praise for Leiz, saying she has enjoyed serving as vice president under Leiz' presidency for the past three years. She noted the former board president has been active in attending numerous meetings and presentations during her presidential term.

"You have shown almost limitless energy for this work," Walker said of Leiz. "Your pride for Westfield has been front and center."

BOE member Jane Clancy nominated Cary for the vice presidential post, noting Cary's involvement in chairing the long range planning committee this year and as a former community outreach committee chairwoman. She noted that Cary has worked to keep students first during her tenure.

Cary stayed on the students theme during her remarks following her unanimous election.

"Board members usually get involved because something is going on in their children's school that they like or don't like," she said. "But once you get behind this table you realize your responsibility for all of the kids."

Cary also used her remarks to take aim at Christie for his budget cuts.

"Unfortunately we have a governor who two months into his term, showed that the children are not his priority," said Cary, who noted that state government issues relating to education top her priority list for the coming year.

Slater, who defeated former BOE member Richard Solomon last week, continued the themes of his campaign during his remarks Tuesday night. He noted that he will continue to press the issues that formed his platform during the election, including the guidance department, spending, accountability and outreach. He said he wants community members to hold him accountable for his actions during the next three years.

"The issues I highlighted in the campaign remain at the top of my to do list," he said.

Slater, who finished first in the highest turnout BOE election in Westfield history, noted that he believes the election results sent a message to all of the board members. He said he believes voters are seeking change in the school system based on the record turnout. He cited increased accountability and fiscal restraint as top issues arising from the high turnout.

During a second address to her colleagues, Walker took time to discuss her vision for the board in the coming year. She noted that she would like to see non-political governance of the school system and that the board should not be seen as a political body, citing the legal status as a non-partisan entity. Walker, who thanked residents for approving the budget last week, noted that the agenda items before the board on Tuesday were administrative in nature and not political. The reorganization meeting included appointments to posts varying from treasurer of school monies to architect, posts that Walker said were not political in nature.

"None of these actions are political," Walker said of the Tuesday evening agenda. "This is not a political body. We need to focus on the job at hand, the education of the children of Westfield.