Erie school board elects Dr. Brenneman president; John Harkins chosen vice president

The Board of Directors of the School District of the City of Erie, Pa., elected Dr. Brenneman as board president and John Harkins as vice president at a reorganization meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, held at the Doctor James E. Proctor Leadership Center.

The vote followed the reading of the meeting notice, which said the board would meet “for the purpose of reorganization as prescribed by the school code” and to elect a president and vice president. The board first nominated and approved Harkins to serve temporarily as chair to preside over the elections.

During a roll-call vote for president, multiple board members recorded “yes” votes; the transcript records affirmative responses from Nichols, San Vitangelo, Dr. Brenneman, Devlin, Gillespie, Graff and Harkins. After the result was announced, Dr. Brenneman thanked colleagues for their support, saying, “I appreciate the confidence of those who voted for my renomination appointment as president.”

John Harkins was nominated and confirmed as vice president. The board closed nominations and approved Harkins by voice vote and subsequent roll call in which members recorded affirmative votes.

Board members offered brief remarks after the elections. Dr. Brenneman thanked the board for its work and pledged to support productive work in the coming year. Harkins congratulated Brenneman and said he looked forward to assisting the president. Several newer board members and longer-serving members also spoke, thanking colleagues and district staff for support during the prior year’s work.

Superintendent Pulido addressed the board, congratulating the newly elected officers and summarizing recent district activity. Pulido said the district completed or started several construction projects totaling “several $1,000,000 of construction projects” and secured state subsidy increases the administration directed toward student achievement and workforce stabilization. Pulido added that his top priority in the coming months is ensuring “a smooth transition with a new superintendent this upcoming school year.”

The board concluded routine comments, heard brief additional remarks from members of the board, and approved a motion to adjourn. The meeting then ended.

Votes at a glance - Election of temporary chair: John Harkins — motion moved, seconded and approved (voice vote). - Election of president: Dr. Brenneman — roll-call votes recorded as “yes” by Nichols, San Vitangelo, Dr. Brenneman, Devlin, Gillespie, Graff and Harkins; announced elected. - Election of vice president: John Harkins — motion moved and seconded; approved by voice vote and roll call (affirmative votes recorded). - Motion to adjourn: moved and seconded; approved by voice vote.

The meeting notice and votes show the session’s sole substantive business was officer elections and brief organizational remarks; there were no ordinances, contracts, or other formal policy actions recorded in the transcript.