News

School board to swap seats

Jeff Schmucker
Published: November 17, 2012

BROOKSVILLE - Despite being faced with a shrinking budget and a tough decision regarding transportation and choosing those to fill leadership positions, School Board Chairwoman Cynthia Moore said she's having a great time leading the elected five-member group.

But those good times will come to an end on Tuesday during their 2 p.m. meeting when Moore steps down and the board chooses a new leader and vice chairman — who generally fills in if the chairman is absent or takes the gavel in the event of a conflict of interest.

Both leadership positions are annually selected based on nominations and votes from among the board members.

Moore, who has been on the board since November of 2010, said she has had fun learning the ropes as a school board member and then chairwoman a year later.

"I'm thoroughly enjoying being on the board. I've learned a lot and it keeps me young by staying involved," Moore said. "And plus I feel like it's given me the opportunity to help a lot of people."

Once she became chairwoman, she said the job shifted to include being asked about putting various matters on the meeting agendas and being the lead elected official to sign off on paperwork.

On Friday, she said she doesn't have someone in mind to take her place and will instead leave that up to the board's discretion.

With Moore stepping down from the role, that leaves the following candidates for chair and vice chair:

Last year he was selected for the vice chairman role and is the only current school board member to not have served as chairman.

Meanwhile, Moore's parting advice for the incoming chairperson — and for board members in general — is to remain involved in the school system beyond sitting on the school board.

She said her volunteering in the schools and talking to parents has helped her become knowledgeable of issues beyond what staff members include in the meeting agendas.

"You can read the agenda and the backup information and still not know the full extent of an issue," Moore said. "A lot of times I knew more because I'm involved in the schools."