School board elects two to top positions

Reorganization leads to Landino as president, Breece as vice president

Boyertown school board reorganized on Tuesday, Dec. 6, naming John Landino as president and Clay Breece as vice president.

Board member Stephen Elsier nominated Landino; this action was seconded by Paul Stengle and no other nominations were made. The board unanimously voted in favor of John Landino to serve in the position of board president.

Landino immediately assumed president responsibilities and called for nominations for vice president.

Paul Stengle named Clay Breece as a nominee; Donna Usavage named herself.

Before the vote, Usavage explained that she wasn’t planning to nominate herself and instead was looking to have a member of the frequent minority on the leadership team (Landino and Usavage both represent Region III on the Montgomery County side of the district. Breece represents Region II which falls into both counties). She said she was ac-

tively looking for options to support and once she spoke with the minority portion of the board, it became apparent that the only option was Breece.

“After speaking with Breece,” she said “I didn’t believe his view aligned with mine regarding the role of board leadership, which simply stated, is facilitation.” She noted that he is completing his first year on board and is still learning, as they all are. “I see growth but couldn’t support Breece as vice president or member of leadership at this time.”

Usavage has served on the school board for seven years and has previously served as board president. If nominated as vice president, she said she would work on the board’s transparency and also help to build framework for productive board discussions.

Most recent board president Jill Dennin said she understands the position to have someone in the minority serve as vice president, but noted Usavage’s experience, training, and professionalism.

“It’s a difficult position to be in board leadership, it’s not always an easy place to be and I think Mrs. Ususavge really understands that.”

Dennin also recognized Breece’s passion and commitment to the board and stated she would support whichever option the board deems best.

Paul Stengle said it would be good to have balance between Berks and Montgomery County, it’s something he’s expressed for a long time. He acknowledged Usavage’s experience, but spoke in favor of Breece.

“Clay has been a breath of fresh air to the board. He brings a level of enthusiasm.” He noted Breece’s outreach to the community for opinions and the effort made to get the expertise needed to gain such a leadership role. “Do we want to continue as we have been or do we want a new start? I think John Landino as president and Clay as vice president will change the atmosphere and move us towards a more collaborative board with more consensus than in the split votes we’ve seen over the past year.”

“My vote is the olive branch to the Berks County folks,” said Landino, serving as the new board president. “And I hope they see it as that.”

He noted the difficulties the board has had and the perception of transparency among the board; he hopes this change will be what the board needs to work together more effectively.

“The only way to end the perception or thought that there’s some unseemly going on behind the scenes is to have that inclusive leadership.”

With a vote of 5-4, Clay Breece was named board vice president.

Board members Robert Caso, Christine Neiman, Paul Stengle, Clay Breece and John Landino voted in favor of Breece; Stephen Elsier, Donna Usavage, David Lewis, and Jill Dennin voted in favor of Usavage.

In other news — beginning in 2017, the school board will be holding workshop sessions. These will be informational, non-voting meetings held in addition to the board’s usual meetings. The first workshop is scheduled for Jan. 17.