Divided Allentown School Board selects new leadership
In a narrow vote, Sara Brace was chosen to lead a divided Allentown School Board as the new president, winning by one vote over Cheryl Johnson Watts.
At Thursday’s reorganization meeting, the board swore in its newest directors: Nick Miller, Linda Vega and Nancy Wilt, who were elected in November. Returning directors Charlie Thiel and Audrey Mathison, both reelected in November, also were sworn in.
The reorganization meeting is also where directors nominate fellow board members for leadership positions for the upcoming year.
But before nominations were accepted for president and vice president, director Lisa Conover, who was chairing the meeting, asked anyone to address the board if they wanted to run for a leadership position. Johnson Watts said she wanted to be considered for president and director Phoebe Harris said she wanted to be considered for vice president.
Johnson Watts, who has served on the board for two years, said she would highlight transparency and long-term goals as priorities.
“I encourage you that if you are committed to transparency, if you are committed to collaboration and if you are committed to moving forward and making decisions that we can be proud of on the long term, then I hope that you will vote for me,” Johnson Watts told the board.
After she spoke, Harris, also on the board for two years, said that if elected vice president, she will continue to be a presence at community events so students, parents and teachers know she and the board are advocates for them.
“That to me is the most important thing that our parents, students and teachers’ voices are heard,” she said. “I will be in the community, I will continue to be in the community, because I love Allentown.”
But there seemed to be some confusion from other directors for why Johnson Watts and Harris were grandstanding before nominations were accepted.
“I wasn’t aware we were going to do this,” Brace said after they spoke. “So, if somebody chooses to nominate me for president, since nominations haven’t happened yet … all I can say is I have worked hard to earn the trust of some current members and past members, and I am here to serve the students and families of the Allentown School District.”
Mathison then nominated Brace for president and Conover nominated Johnson Watts. Mathison, Miller, Thiel and Wilt voted for Brace, who was appointed to the board in 2017 and elected later that year. Conover, Harris and Vega voted for Johnson Watts. Brace and Johnson Watts voted for themselves, making the vote 5-4.
After Brace won, directors voted for vice president. Johnson Watts nominated Harris for vice president and Brace nominated Mathison, who served as president this past year.
Mathison won 6-3. Brace, Miller, Thiel, Wilt and Vega voted for her. Conover and Johnson Watts voted for Harris. Mathison and Harris voted for themselves.
Morning Call reporter Jacqueline Palochko can be reached at 610-820-6613 or at jpalochko@ mcall.com.