Board members lauded for service to school district

Unit 1 observing School Board Member Day

UNIT 1 SUPERINTENDENT Dr. Kent Bugg acknowledged the members of the Board of Education for their years of service to the district. The recognition came in advance of School Board Members Day in Illinois, which will be observed on Saturday, Nov. 16. Each member of the board received service pins denoting their time on the board. The longest serving member of the board is Mary Gill who was first elected in 1997.

By: 
STAFF REPORT

Nearly 6,000 men and women serve on local school boards in Illinois, and seven of them represent the students and taxpayers of the Unit 1 School District.
Nov. 15 of each year marks the official statewide observance of School Board Members Day in Illinois. The honorary day is an opportunity for school districts and communities to show support for their elected Board of Education and the commitment its members make to ensure the educational vision is met.
Board members dedicate a significant amount of time to the district, something that is often overlooked. They attend extra-curricular events, participate in professional development opportunities, serve on committees, represent the district at community events and work long hours to ensure students have access to the educational resources they need to succeed.
School board members serve the public as unpaid volunteers for the benefit of students and community residents, and serve as front line advocates who provide a local voice and vision of the district they represent.
Unit 1 Superintendent Dr. Kent Bugg said the day provides an opportunity to recognize board members for the work they do.
“I think it’s important people understand we are so fortunate here that we’ve had a lot of stability in this Board of Education over the years,” Bugg said.
The seven-member board has 93 years of combined experience, and last week the superintendent recognized the board with the presentation of certificates from the Illinois Association of School Boards, along with district service pins.
At the beginning of each school year, Bugg hands out service pins to recognize staff members for their years of service and he felt it appropriate to do the same for members of the board.
Mary Gill, the board’s secretary, is the longest-serving member with 22 years of continued service to the district.
“I’d really like to know if anyone in Grundy County has more continued service than that,” Bugg said, noting she was among the board members who hired him into the district 21 years ago.
Gill received five-, 10-, 15- and 20-year pins.
After 33 years as an educator, Ken P. Miller continued his service to the district as an elected board member.
Miller, the board’s president, was recognized for 12 years and seven months of continued service to the school district.
Pins were presented to Jeff Emerson and Quint Harmon recognizing 10 years and seven months and 10 years and six months of continued service respectively.
Robert Bianchetta served four years on the board, took a few years off and returned with his current run spanning nine years. He was presented with a five-year service pin. Chuck Lander and Shawn Hamilton, the board’s vice president, were also presented with five-year pins.
Lander has served on the board for seven years, nine months and Hamilton six years, seven months consecutively. He had a prior term that lasted 10 years.
“As superintendent of the district I just want to thank all of you for your service and what you’ve done. Like I said, there is so much value in having stability on our Board of Education,” Bugg said.
“Everyone knows what we’re trying to accomplish and everyone works together, not that we always agree, but that’s what a good board does. I appreciate that and the opportunity to work with all of you,” the superintendent said.