New Director Calls for Unity

New director calls for unity

06 Dec 2011 — Bucks County Courier Times

By GEMA MARIA DUARTE

Staff writer

There was a call for unity at the Morrisville School District meeting on Monday.

School board director John DeWilde, who was appointed to the president position during the reorganization meeting also that night, said he hopes that there won't be any subgroups within the board.

"We are a team of nine," he told his fellow board members.

John DeWilde, Ronald Stout, Jack Buckman, Steve Worob remained from the previous board. Worob was the only incumbent who ran and won.

Newcomers Wanda Kartal, Damon Miller, Ted Parker and David Stoneburner were sworn in Monday night. They ousted former board members Bill Hellmann, Al Radosti and Marlys Mihok - who during their tenure decreased taxes. Yvonne Ruthrauff, who was appointed to the board last year, also ran and lost.

Gloria Heater did not run for another term. Newcomer Alina Marone ran unopposed.

The call for unity - made not only by DeWilde, but by two community members - came from the known tension that the former members, those still on the board, and the newcomers have had.

But during the reorganization meeting, the dividing lines appeared to have been drawn. Kartal, Miller, Parker and Stoneburner voted together. So did Stout, Buckman and Worob.

DeWilde and Miller were nominated for the president position. Miller and Marone were nominated for vice president, and Marone was appointed to the seat. Buckman and Kartal were up for secretary, and that job ultimately went to Kartal. Miller was appointed as treasurer without competition.

As for the solicitor, Thomas Profy IV, will remain the board's legal counsel, for now. The appointment was tabled until next week's council meeting on Wednesday. The majority of the board wants to take proposals for other lawyers.