Board appoints Gabriel Burdett to Milan Area Schools board

The Milan Area Schools Board of Education on Dec. 11 appointed Gabriel Burdett to fill the unexpired term of Betty Rosen Leach, who resigned; the appointment runs until the Nov. 3, 2026 election. The board selected Burdett after public interviews and two rounds of ranked voting, then approved the appointment by roll call.

Board members said they appreciated all five candidates who applied and participated in the public interviews. ‘‘I just want to thank all the candidates,’’ Mr. Farrow said, praising their willingness to serve. The board conducted a randomized question order for candidates and asked the same set of five questions of each applicant to allow public assessment of responses.

The panel began with five candidates — Gabriel Burdett, Angela Chittister, George Elder, Sarah Norton and Gary Tapke — and used ranked ballots to identify the top three. After a second round of rankings, the board entertained and approved a motion ‘‘to appoint Mr. Burdett to serve as a member of the Board of Education of Milan Area Schools for the unexpired term of Betty Rosen Leach’’ (motion moved by Muray; supported by Farrow). The roll-call vote recorded Farrow, Gutierrez, Marais, Pryor and Syslo as voting yes; the motion carried 5-0.

During the interviews, candidates discussed priorities they would press if selected, including budgeting and use of the recently passed sinking fund, teacher retention and school safety. Burdett emphasized his financial experience and said he would ‘‘put in the work’’ to support district budgeting and oversight. The board president said Mr. Gierbaugh, the superintendent, would follow up with Mr. Burdett to complete onboarding and next steps.

The appointment fills the seat until voters select a successor in the November 2026 election; the board indicated the personnel committee and administration will complete the procedural onboarding and public-notice requirements for the appointment.