Republicans to lead NA’s school board

Despite a plea for bipartisanship, the election of officers for the North Allegheny School Board went down along party lines.

Republicans hold a 5-4 majority on the board.

Richard McClure was elected president and Elizabeth “Libby” Blackburn was elected vice president by a 5-4 vote Wednesday. Both are Republicans.

Elizabeth Warner was nominated for both positions.

Before the vote for president, Mrs. Warner, a Democrat, made a case for bipartisanship, noting that two Republicans and two Democrats won in the last election.

“Our country is split, our community is split, our board is split. With almost 42,000 voters in North Allegheny, the difference between first place and last place in the election was only 236 votes. The difference between being on the board and in fifth place was only 47 votes,” she said. “Neither side has a mandate. Hearing the perspectives of people with different views than our own allows us all to serve the community better.”

Mrs. Warner said that she would support any Republican for board president who would agree to a vice president who is a Democrat.

“School director is supposed to be a nonpartisan position, but like so many things, it has become political,” she said. “We can choose this evening to create a team that reflects the district we serve, or we can choose to continue the status quo. As leaders of this district, we set the tone. The tone I hope we set is one of collaboration in pursuit of excellence of for our students and our community.”

After he was elected, Mr. McClure noted that school board “is the most basic example of public service as envisioned by the founding fathers.” He said the volunteer position is “sometimes difficult and controversial, but each of us arrives here with the same basic purpose” — providing education for the children of the district.

Mr. McClure was the only incumbent to seek re-election. He was sworn in along with new members Leslie Britton Dozier, Paige Hardy and Vidya Szymkowiak.

Unlike many other districts, the North Allegheny board does not transact business at its reorganization meeting. The board has its only other December meeting Wednesday.