HOWELL – Three incumbent members of the Howell K-8 School District Board of Education began serving new terms when the board reorganized for 2020 on Jan. 2.
Cristy Mangano and Mark Bonjavanni were sworn in to begin serving three-year terms. Laurence Gurman was sworn in to begin serving a one-year term.
Gurman, who had been serving on the board, lost his bid for re-election on Nov. 5. Joseph Tate, who won a three-year term, subsequently informed district administrators he would not be able to serve and that created an open seat on the board beginning in January.
Gurman applied for an appointment to fill the open seat for a one-year term in 2020 and was selected by the board members for that position.
The final two years (2021 and 2022) of the three-year term Tate won in the 2019 election will be on the ballot this fall. Gurman or any other qualified resident may seek the two-year term.
During the reorganization meeting, board member Albert Miller nominated Bonjavanni to serve as the panel’s president for 2020. Bonjavanni was the president in 2019.
“Seeing his dedication to the board speaks a lot for our district and I think our board should continue with his leadership,” Miller said of Bonjanvanni.
Bonjavanni was elected president in a unanimous vote. He then nominated Miller to serve as vice president for 2020. Miller was the vice president in 2019.
“The dedication he brings to this position is unmatched, he really is a person of reason. He brings the right attitude to the position,” Bonjavanni said of Miller.
Miller was elected vice president in a unanimous vote.
Bonjavanni, Miller, Gurman and Mangano are joined on the board by Scott Jeffrey, Denise Lowe, MaryRose Malley, Jennifer Okerson and Ira Thor.
Board meetings are open to the public and are held in the Howell municipal building, 4567 Route 9 North.
