The four new Board of Education members were decided during the election on Nov. 7. Cathy Boote, Mark Boline, Melanie Turner and Tanya Jacobucci are set to take the open board seats. Boote won with the most votes with 2,614, Boline with 2,512, Turner with 2,410 and Jacobucci with 2,332.
“I am very humbled and honored to be elected to the Derby School Board. Yes I’m very excited to get to work for the students of Derby,” Boote said.
Boline and Boote both worked as educators before running for seats.
“it’s a good opportunity as a former teacher that loves education, I love to talk about education, love to be around education.So for four years, getting a lot of that,” Boline said.
“I was an educator for 35 years and a member of this community for over 30 years. Derby student success will be my primary focus,” Boote said.
Boline, Turner and Jacobucci all campaigned together along with LuAnn Schaaf, and hosted an election results party at the Derby Bowling Alley.
“I think with the three of us winning, it shows that the community is looking for a change on the board. I am hoping that the makeup of the new board can work together and we start to earn back the respect of the district staff of the community,” Turner said, “It’s nice to spend the night here with friends and family supporting me and a few of my fellow candidates.”
From the beginning of their campaigns, to the end, each candidate experienced whirlwinds of emotion.
“The campaign was grueling at times, I started in June and have knocked on over 2000 doors. July and August temps were brutal, but I thoroughly enjoyed the dialog,” Boote said.
“It’s been a roller coaster. It’s been a lot of ups and downs and everything in between, and I didn’t expect tonight to be anything less. But (I’m) ready for it to be over and move ahead and start serving the district.” Jacobucci said.
The new members are all alike in being hopeful for the future of the board.
“There are good people that got on, so I think we’re in a good place,” Jacobucci said.
With the election now over, plans for their roles as members are being set.
“I look forward to coming to the schools and seeing more about what’s going on in the schools, excited to get into the schools more,” Boline said.
“I want to be a hands-on board member, so I want to get into all the schools and see what’s going on,” Turner said.