Anchor Bay board appoints Ryan Covert to temporary trustee seat after organizational votes

The Anchor Bay School District Board of Education appointed Ryan Covert to a temporary trustee seat for the remainder of 2026 following an organizational meeting and an open discussion of four finalists. The motion to nominate Covert was made by board member Miss Bergmeier and seconded; the motion passed by roll call with one recorded no vote by Mister Venatelli.

Board members used an open‑discussion format to explain priorities for the appointment before voting. Miss Bergmeier said she sought candidates with “community involvement” and a willingness to have “the harder conversations” during difficult meetings. Mister Venatelli described focusing on short‑term readiness and recommended Covert, saying his experience on a New Baltimore public board provides relevant crossover knowledge of governance and open‑meetings procedures.

The vote followed other organizational actions earlier in the meeting, when the board elected Dennis Richards chair pro tem to preside over officer elections and approved a slate of officers that included Jill Knox as vice president and Brian Powers as treasurer. Board members emphasized the procedural nature of the organizational session and noted a desire to finish the appointment tonight rather than calling a special meeting.

The board did not discuss candidate interviews at length during the appointment vote; board members said they had conducted interviews during a prior marathon of candidate interviews. The newly appointed trustee will serve through the remainder of the year and may run in the fall election if he chooses.

Next steps: administration will complete onboarding paperwork and notify the county intermediate school district as required.