A sense of sadness and loss pervaded the Skaneateles Board of Education meeting room on Oct. 2 as BOE member Valerie Jerabeck announced her resignation from the board. Jerabeck and her husband are moving to Charlotte, N.C., for his job.
“It is with deep and profound regret that I resign,” Jerabeck said. “I’m really disappointed. You have no idea.”
Jerabeck was elected to the school board in May 2011 to a three-year term. She has lived in Skaneateles for the past 26 years and during that time participated as a volunteer for numerous events and responsibilities in the school district.
“Val has always given unselfishly and provided leadership” to the Skaneateles district, said BOE Vice President Catherine Carlson, who also was elected to the board in May 2011.
“I will miss your humor,” said Sue Benjamin one of the two newest board members.
BOE President Evan Dreyfuss said one of the great things about Skaneateles is the ability of residents to participate in its workings and to make a difference in the community. “Val really exemplified that,” he said.
Jerabeck’s resignation becomes effective Friday, Oct. 6. Her seat will come up for election in May 2013.
After accepting Jerabeck’s resignation, the board then approved the appointment of former BOE member Michael E. Card to fill the vacant seat from Oct. 7 until May 21. Card retired from the school board this past May after serving for 18 years.
Card was chosen after Dreyfuss contacted every former board member within the past five years to see if anyone would be willing to serve, and Card was willing.
“We thought it best to fill the position with a board member with a lot of experience” because of the search for a new superintendent currently ongoing, Dreyfuss said.
Once he takes his seat, Card will be the only member of the school board to have participated in a superintendent search. He was part of the board when former Superintendent Phil D’Angelo was hired in 2005.
Card’s “knowledge and experience” will be helpful to the board as it undertakes its superintendent selection process, Dreyfuss said.
“I’m looking forward to working with the board again,” Card said, but added that he will not run to permanently fill the seat during the next election. “This is only for one year.”
Card said it will be “exciting” to help choose the next superintendent, which he called “the biggest job the board is charged with.”
Card will be sworn in at the school board’s next meeting on Oct. 16.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].
