The nomination for president of the Pleasant Valley School Board was volleyed from one director to another at the reorganization meeting on Thursday night.

School board director John Gesiskie nominated Vice President Michael Galler for president. Galler declined and nominated director Ryan O’Keefe. O’Keefe declined and nominated Gesiskie. He accepted, then director Robert Clark nominated current President Susan Kresge to another term as president.

With no other nominations voiced, a vote was taken with each director saying who they wanted for president. Kresge won with five votes from Norman Burger, Robert Clark, Diane Serfass, Matthew Walters and Melanie Zipp. Kresge abstained from voting. Galler, Gesiskie and O’Keefe voted for Gesiskie.

This will be Kresge’s fourth consecutive term as president. Each term is for one year, beginning with the reorganization meeting in December.

Prior to the vote, the public had an opportunity to voice their thoughts on agenda items. Term limits was the theme, because the board was voting later in the meeting on whether or not to approve changes to Policy 005, Organization.

The changes to the policy, which were later approved by the board, eliminated consecutive term limits. Originally, the policy limited the president, vice president and treasurer to two consecutive terms each, but allowed the board to waive the restriction at its discretion.

Also changed in the policy was the process for removing an officer of the board. The policy originally said an officer could be removed by the affirmative vote of the majority of the members present and voting.

The new policy states that the officer may only be removed “after receiving notification of the reason for removal and the opportunity for a hearing before the Board, in accordance with applicable law.”

In a follow-up interview with Kresge, she said that she recognizes she could have declined the nomination for president.

“Sure, I could have easily done that, but many have reached out and said we need you there. You are a voice of reason. You have the experience and the knowledge to do the work. In my view, the president is a facilitator, helping the board to work together and govern,” she said. “School board members do not have the authority to act individually. We only have authority as a collective body, and working together as a team we can accomplish more for our students and community.”

Kresge said she first joined to the school board in 1998 as an appointed to fill a vacancy. After that, she ran in the next election, was elected, and has continued to be elected.

“Volunteering and giving back to my community are important values to me. Our community has allowed me this opportunity by electing me to serve on the school board,” she said. “Why do I keep coming back — always has been about our student’s education. The need to provide them a quality educational program, a highly qualified teaching staff, and a safe environment to learn in.”

The position of vice president was also selected at the meeting and followed a similar volley.

Gesiskie nominated Galler, who declined. Galler nominated O’Keefe, who declined. Gesiskie then nominated himself, and Kresge nominated Matthew Walters. Walters accepted the nomination and was approved by all directors, except for Walters, who abstained from the vote.

During the regular meeting later that evening, Galler said that the board did not handle everything correctly on Nov. 25, but commended Kresge for trying to explain things to the community. He asked the community to “please don’t lose faith in your board members.”

Galler said they don’t discuss personnel issues in public meetings, but he thinks that Superintendent James Konrad could have handled the situation better.

“James, we had members at the podium 27 times on Nov. 25 with the majority of them commenting on concerns about your contract and raise proposal. During the public comments, you heard the public discontent and rumors as to why this was happening, seeking work elsewhere, accepting another job, strong-arming us, etc.,” Galler said.

“I anxiously awaited for agenda item 21, which is director superintendent comments, hoping to hear some words of encouragement from you regarding those rumors, and to reassure your utmost commitment to our district and community. That never happened.”

Galler continued: “ Our community was looking for feedback. Instead you avoided the subject, and when our community realized that you had not acknowledged there concerns and rumors, they left and all you could say is ‘Thanks for coming out’ as they walked out during your remarks.

“James, I’ve always supported you. We’ve come a long way in the past three years. However your lack of response and reassurance along with your actions since the last board meeting has me place in stance where moving forward, I will not support opening your contract until expiration,” Galler said.