Newark school board members keep seats
By John Zornow

A low turnout for yesterday's annual school vote saw Nancy Rohlin and Russ Harris retain their board seats. The budget passed by better than a 2-1 margin.

The vote put incumbent Rohlin on top with 740 votes, Harris next with 598, with challengers Louis Jasper and Emily Leone trailing (525 and 507 votes, respectively).

The largest vote getter, Nancy Rohlin, a six-year veteran of the board, indicated during the campaign that the biggest challenge facing the district was the raising of academic standards for all students.

Harris, also a six-year member of the board, had the next highest vote. He had also indicated that higher standards were a big challenge facing the board.

School board President David Howard said he was pleased that the budget was passed and encourged Leone and Jasper to stay involved and maybe make themselves available for next school board seat.

That next slot may be available soon. At the end of last week's board meeting, board member Gloria Mattias announced that she was resigning from the board due to health reasons. It is now up to the board to decide what to do about the position, vacant effective June 11.

Supt. of Schools Robert Christmann explained that three options are available to the board to fill Mrs. Mattias seat:

1. Hold a special election to fill the unexpired term.

2. Appoint someone to fill the unexpired term.

3. Leave the spot vacant until next school election.

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