Beloit School Board elects officers, shifts legislative-liaison policy at organizational meeting

The Beloit School Board elected Tia Johnson as board president and completed a slate of officer and committee appointments at its organizational meeting, and voted to follow the more recent Policy 1-43 designating the board president as legislative liaison.

The action centralized legislative responsibilities in the president’s office and set committee assignments for the coming year. Board members elected or affirmed Vice President Bridal (Brian) Nichols, Treasurer Tom Hankins, Clerk Juan Romero, Secretary Michelle Schope and Parliamentarian Tom Hankins, and approved a range of committee and agency appointments including representation to CESA 2 and WASB delegates.

Board President Tia Johnson was announced as the winner in the presidential ballot shortly after nominations concluded. The board then proceeded through nominations and votes for vice president, treasurer, clerk, parliamentarian and secretary; several officers were approved by acclamation when they were unopposed. Vice President Brian Nichols was elected with the announced outcome “Bridal Nichols will be the vice president.” Treasurer Tom Hankins was approved by acclamation after Juan Romero declined the nomination. Clerk Juan Romero and Secretary Michelle Schope were approved by acclamation. The motion electing Tom Hankins as parliamentarian carried 6 to 1.

The board addressed a standing inconsistency between two board policies about who appoints the legislative liaison. Board member Brian Nichols moved “that we follow policy 1 43, and the legislative liaison is handled by the board president,” a motion seconded by Megan Miller and adopted unanimously. The board chair suggested the policy committee review and reconcile the older Policy 1-54 with more recent Policy 1-43.

The board also made committee appointments and superintendent-recommended appointments to external and advisory bodies. Tom Hankins accepted the CESA 2 representative role. Brian Nichols accepted chair duties for the policy committee, and other members were named to teaching, learning, and equity (TLE) and business operations and finance committees. Agency appointments included Amy Levy as WASB delegate and Megan Miller as WASB alternate; Hankins accepted the legislative-liaison role under the newly applied policy; Juan Romero accepted TIF/TID representation. Superintendent Dr. Garrison presented three superintendent appointments (parks and recreation advisory, alcohol and beverage/license control, and academic steering committee), which the superintendent said were filled by the named staff/board members.

The reorganizational meeting concluded after officers and committee rosters were set. Several board members noted that the policy committee should address policy numbering and conflicts that persist in the district’s master policy logbook.