Departing member points out accomplishments of school board

By MARY SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- Outgoing board member Dr. Douglas Darnall, who opted not to seek re-election to the Weathersfield school board, said his goodbyes at the board's final meeting of the year.
Darnall, who's served on the board for eight years, said that people who are not a part of the board don't really have an idea of how much work and decision-making go into the position.
During Wednesday's meeting, Darnall pointed to accomplishments the board has made over the last eight years, including the addition of all-day kindergarten and upgrading the honors program.
He said the board will face financial problems, and it now has a teacher morale problem.
Cheryl Bassista was elected in November to fill Darnall's seat.
In other business, the board accepted a donation of children's books valued at about $11,356.
The books will be distributed to children attending the elementary and middle schools.
They were obtained in coordination with 1st Sgt. Jeffrey Moses of the Marine Corps Reserve, who is assigned to the reserve unit at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, and Jerlynn Gjede, wife of the retired Brig. Gen. Michael Gjede, former wing commander at the base.
The board also set compensation for its members at the maximum allowed by state law, which is $125 per meeting.
The board will have its reorganizational meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 4 at the high school library.