Monroe School District board elects Dennis Conant chair, affirms officers and routine measures

The Monroe School District board unanimously elected Dennis Conant as its chair and confirmed Christine Cassell as vice chair and Alan Vagabelloo as board secretary at its December meeting. The board also approved the consent agenda, revised two policies, and approved a fiscal-year 2026 budget transfer.

The leadership votes were uncontested. After his election, Conant thanked the board for its confidence and said he appreciated the trust placed in him. The board then nominated and confirmed Christine Cassell as vice chair and Alan Vagabelloo as secretary; all three leadership motions passed unanimously.

Board members moved quickly through routine business. The consent agenda — including minutes, warrants and a named budget transfer for Jackie Hollow — was approved without objection. The board also voted to adopt revisions to policies 5123 (student promotion/acceleration/retention) and 5145.14 (on-campus recruitment) and accepted the associated new form; those motions passed unanimously.

Later in the meeting, the board approved a fiscal-year 2026 budget transfer to implement wage adjustments required by recently settled collective bargaining agreements for custodians and nurses and to internalize certain student programming. The motion to approve the transfer passed by unanimous voice vote.

The board set committee assignments to remain unchanged for one more meeting while the chair vets suggested changes, including proposals to form communications and grants committees. The chair said he would present committee recommendations at a future meeting.