By WHITNEE ICE
St. Joseph Post
A changing of the guard took place as the St. Joseph School Board met last night to swear in the new school board members.
All three incumbents on the St. Joseph School Board: Lute Atieh, Larry Koch, and Rick Gehring lost their seats to Kenneth Reeder, David Foster, and LaTonya Williams in the election earlier this month.
Board Member LaTonya Williams says she was not expecting to get elected.
"I was completely, completely in shock," Williams tells St. Joseph Post. "I'm still in shock."
Board Member David Foster says he has set goals for his time as a school board member.
"My goals haven't changed," says Foster. "They're still enhancing early childhood development for higher graduation rates."
Board Member Kenneth Reeder says the new board members have a common goal in mind.
"That's early childhood development. Everybody knows that's the biggest bang for the buck anywhere. You pay for your education now, and then it pays off when they're in 5th and 6th grade when we are not dragging them through the system," says Reeder. "It's a proven fact."
President Tami Pasley, Board Secretary Donna Baker, and Board Treasurer Dr. Gabe Edgar were re-elected to their respective positions, while Dr. Bryan Green was elected as Vice President of the school board.