Huntley District 158 board elects Paul Troy president after failed bid to re-elect Andy Bittman

The Huntley Community School District 158 Board of Education elected Paul Troy as board president after members rejected a motion to re-elect incumbent board member Andy Bittman.

Board member Paul Troy was chosen in a roll-call vote after an initial nomination for Andy Bittman failed. A speaker who nominated Bittman praised his leadership, citing Bittman’s role in finalizing the HEA teachers’ contract, addressing what the speaker called a “10 year salary gap,” hiring district leader Jessica Lombard, and supporting a no-cell-phone policy in schools.

The nominating speaker said, “Andy’s leadership has been second to none. He has led with unwavering integrity, not emotion, always focused on what truly matters, academic excellence for every student, teacher, and staff member in this district.” The motion to elect Bittman was seconded; roll-call votes recorded at the meeting show Mrs. Murray and Mr. Bitton voting yes and five other members voting no, leading to the motion’s defeat.

After the failed Bittman motion, a nomination for Paul Troy was put forward and seconded. During that roll call, Troy recorded an abstention on his own nomination; other members voted as recorded at the meeting and the board declared Troy elected president.

The board then moved on to elect a vice president and a secretary. Nominees were advanced and voted on by roll call; the meeting record shows the board closed nominations, conducted roll-call votes and announced the successful candidates. The newly elected officers will carry out board duties and preside over future meetings. The board also noted it would finalize committee assignments and circulate those to members prior to the next meeting.

No statutory authorities or external approvals were referenced in the recorded nominations and votes.