Milwaukee school board elects Missy Zomber president, Marva Herndon vice president; adopts calendar

Missy Zomber was elected president of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors on a 6–3 roll-call vote during the board's annual organizational meeting Thursday; Director Marva Herndon was elected vice president by a 7–2 vote.

The board also approved a tentative 2025–26 meetings calendar after waiving certain board rules, voted to defer review of member compensation until after upcoming budget discussions, completed routine appointments to external bodies and internal liaisons, and referred a newly introduced lead-safety resolution to the committee on accountability, finance and personnel.

Why it matters: The annual organizational meeting sets board leadership and committee representation for the year ahead and schedules the board’s business cycle. The choices for president, vice president and committee representatives determine which members will set meeting agendas and represent Milwaukee Public Schools in regional education bodies during a transition period that includes a newly onboarded superintendent and other leadership changes.

The meeting opened after the Office of Board Governance certified the oath of office for recently elected members and confirmed a nine-member quorum. Megan O'Halloran served as temporary presiding officer while the board conducted nominations and roll-call votes for president and vice president. Several directors made speeches before the votes; two candidates framed contrasting priorities in remarks to colleagues.

Director Missy Zomber said she sought the presidency to defend and strengthen public education in Milwaukee and highlighted past board work she cited as evidence of her leadership, including policy updates, resolutions on English learners, and efforts on accountability. "It is with a deep commitment to Milwaukee Public Schools students, families, education workers, and the defense of public education that I'm putting myself forward to be considered the next board president of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors," Zomber said during her remarks.

Director James Ferguson said he was running to help rebuild trust in the district and stressed attention to the district’s large population of African American and Hispanic male students. "I'm running for school board president for them, to be their voice, to be their real advocate," Ferguson said.

On the calendar: The board voted to waive board rules 1.01, 1.02 and 2.02 in order to consider and adopt a tentative calendar of meetings for the 2025–26 board year. The motion to waive and adopt passed on a roll call with seven ayes, one no and one member recorded as present. The secretary read the roll during the vote.

On compensation and unfinished business: The board voted unanimously to defer its annual review of member compensation until after budget discussions are complete, with members saying the issue should follow budget decisions. The board also set aside several items of unfinished business for further committee work and placed the balance of unfinished items on file by unanimous vote.

Appointments and liaisons: By roll call or unanimous consent the board completed several routine appointments: - Dr. Tina Owen Moore was confirmed to continue as board clerk by unanimous consent. - Director Christopher Fonds was elected delegate to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) by a 5–4 vote over Director Mimi Reza. - Director Kate Vannoy was selected as the board's representative to CESA No. 1 by unanimous vote. - Director Mimi Reza was elected liaison to the Title I District Advisory Council (DAC) with seven votes.

Referral: Directors Missy Zomber and Megan O'Halloran introduced Resolution 25_26 R-001 on lead safety; the resolution was referred to the committee on accountability, finance and personnel for consideration.

The meeting concluded after the board handled routine organizational business and the presiding officer adjourned the session.

Votes at a glance - President: Director Missy Zomber elected (tally 6 yes, 3 no). Outcome: approved. - Vice President: Director Marva Herndon elected (tally 7 yes, 2 no). Outcome: approved. - Board clerk: Dr. Tina Owen Moore continued by unanimous consent. Outcome: approved. - Delegate to WASB: Director Christopher Fonds elected (tally 5 Fonds, 4 Mimi Reza). Outcome: approved. - CESA No. 1 representative: Director Kate Vannoy elected (unanimous). Outcome: approved. - DAC liaison: Director Mimi Reza elected (tally 7 yes). Outcome: approved. - Waive rules & adopt tentative 2025–26 calendar: Motion passed (7 ayes, 1 no, 1 present). Outcome: adopted. - Defer board compensation review until July: Motion passed (9 ayes). Outcome: deferred. - Place balance of unfinished business on file: Motion passed (9 ayes). Outcome: filed. - Resolution 25_26 R-001 (lead safety): Introduced by Directors Missy Zomber and Megan O'Halloran; referred to the committee on accountability, finance and personnel. Outcome: referred.

What remained unchanged: The meeting followed the public notice that no public testimony would be taken at the annual organizational meeting; the board conducted all votes and appointments under that constraint and completed the agenda before adjourning.