Regional School District 12 board elects Jennifer Pote chair, fills officers

Jennifer Pote was elected chair of the Regional School District 12 Board of Education at the board’s organizational meeting, the moderator announced after paper ballots were tallied. The moderator reported 8 votes for Pote, and she immediately took over to preside over the remainder of the officer elections.

The chair opened nominations for vice chair; Angela (identified in roll call as Angela Machirullo) was nominated and — according to the chair’s announcement — received all nine votes cast and was declared vice chair. Justin Ongley was nominated and installed as secretary; the transcript announces his selection though an explicit tally for that race was not recorded. Alex McNaughton was elected treasurer, with the chair announcing "All 9 for Alex." The board adopted the consent agenda, including minutes from the June 9 meeting.

Why it matters: The annual organizational meeting sets leadership and committee assignments that shape the board’s agenda and administrative oversight for the coming year. Newly elected officers will manage committee appointments and communications priorities the board discussed later in the meeting.

Details and process: The superintendent had opened the meeting by reading policy 9121 describing officer positions and the ballot process. A board member nominated Pote for chair and another member seconded the nomination before paper ballots were distributed to board members and counted by the recording secretary.

What’s next: The newly constituted leadership will finalize committee chairs and circulate committee sign‑up sheets, and the board signaled plans for a retreat in September to orient and set priorities.