The two candidates who campaigned heavily against closing the two Federal Hocking elementary schools beat two other contenders for positions on the Federal Hocking School Board in last night's election.
Bill Elasky, with 1,351 votes, and Daniel Torrence, with 1,122 votes, received twice the number of votes of Chris Adams and Hope Tilley. Adams had 617 votes and Tilley had 313 votes.
I think we got a mandate to keep the schools open
Torrence said.
Closing two of Federal Hocking's elementary schools was one of the board's plans to solve the district's fiscal problems, but no decisions have been made in regard to closing the schools, said Federal Hocking Treasurer Bruce Steenrod.
Federal Hocking might end the 2008 fiscal year with a budget surplus of $100,000, but that surplus is overshadowed by a nearly $559,000 deficit from 2007, Steenrod said. The district cut teaching positions and some programming funds this summer to reduce the deficit.
Closing the schools to further reduce the deficit would devastate the district, Elasky said.
A considerable amount of parents would consider moving their kids out of the district if the elementary schools closed he said.
Elasky, a retired teacher and member of the teachers' association, now teaches part-time at Ohio University, and Torrence was elected Treasurer of the Athletic Boosters and is a sales manager at Don Wood Automotive.
Although they did not win the seats, Tilley and Adams were still optimistic and wished the best for the district.
Tilley, who taught at the college level and at public and private schools, said she hopes all goes well for Federal Hocking in the end. Adams, who works at the post office and has a daughter in the district, said he hopes everyone in the district can improve communication.
Elasky said he would address these issues as a school board member with Torrence's support.
We wanted to bring the community and school board together. The people wanted the children to be placed first he said.
Working for the children's best interests is the goal for school board members, said Federal Hocking School Board President Dan Dailey.
To be on the School Board
you have to have a thick skin because whatever you do
you're going to upset 50 percent of the people
he said. You have to remember it's for the kids.
School board members receive $125 per meeting for up to 14 meetings, Steenrod said.' Post reporter Jessica Will contributed to this report
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