By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A new leader for the St. Joseph School Board hopes to keep the positive momentum rolling for the St. Joseph School District.
LaTonya Williams was unanimously voted as the new school board President, replacing David Foster who announced he is stepping down from the position, but will remain on the school board.
Williams says her biggest goal in her new position, after serving as Vice President over the past year, is to continue the goals of the board
"Keep the momentum going, there's a lot happening, a lot of moving parts, a lot of pieces," Williams tells reporters.
Williams says the number one issue being school boundaries
"It's a lot of different puzzles in a box all together, it's a mess and I want to get on the boundaries immediately," Williams says.
Williams says other issues she hopes to tackle are in early childhood development and academics.
Williams says the school board has to be open to ideas from the public, even if they are critical.
"I look at that as a good thing," Williams explains. "Criticism is always amazing when it's constructive and helpful."
Williams says past financial mismanagement has created skepticism about the school district
"But I was always taught that you should be a part of the change that you want to see and with all of us coming together we're just going to knock it out of the park," Williams says. "It's going to take some time though."
Williams understands some of the public question the school board's decision to retain Superintendent Gabe Edgar after his DWI.
"People question our decision and I can completely understand that" Williams says. "But they should also trust our roles and our leadership."