Board elects new president and vice president after contested nominations

The Fountain Hills Unified School Board held a special meeting at 4 p.m. to elect officers and set meeting dates. After several nominations and two close votes, the board elected a member as president by a 3–2 vote and Madison Reed as vice president by a 3–2 vote. The board also approved the meeting agenda and set upcoming meeting dates.

The meeting opened with a call to order and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved quickly to routine business. A motion to approve the agenda was made and seconded and the presiding member declared the motion carried after members voted in favor.

The central business item was the election of officers. The presiding member explained that officer elections are formal action items that require a motion, a second and a vote. Several members asked procedural questions about self-nominations and whether discussion is permitted; the presiding member said nominations require a second and discussion follows once a motion is on the floor.

One board member moved to nominate themself for president and was seconded; the presiding member read the motion aloud as "for Madison Reed to be president." That nomination failed on a 2–3 vote. A later self-nomination did not proceed because no second was offered.

A different board member moved and was seconded to nominate themself for president, outlined decades of involvement in education and service to the district, and won the office with a 3–2 vote. The board then turned to the vice presidency. Lillian received a seconded nomination but the vote was tied (2 ayes, 2 nays, 1 abstention) and the motion did not carry. Shortly afterward, Madison Reed was nominated for vice president, the nomination was seconded and the board approved the appointment by a 3–2 vote.

During the discussion, one member said they had not seen a social media post that they believed singled out a person named Rich and urged that the board acknowledge how leadership and direction had been exercised. The remark was noted but did not produce a formal motion or policy action.

Before adjourning, the board set meeting dates: January 15 (tomorrow) and February 5 at 6 p.m. A motion to adjourn was moved, seconded and approved.

Votes at a glance: Agenda approval — motion passed (vote recorded as "all in favor," no roll call tally provided). President election — initial nomination for Madison Reed failed, 2 yea, 3 nay; final president election passed, 3 yea, 2 nay. Vice president — Lillian nomination tied 2–2 with one abstention (failed); Madison Reed elected vice president, 3 yea, 2 nay.

The meeting adjourned after routine scheduling and no additional formal actions were taken.