Schools

School Board Bids Farewell to Bob Iannacone, Eileen Kasunich

Monday night was their last meeting as board members.

The Galloway Township School Board of Education’s reorganization meeting will take place on Jan. 7, 2013, meaning Monday night’s meeting was the last for two longtime board members.

Bob Iannacone, a board member for almost 19 years, and Eileen Kasunich, a board member for eight years, each decided not to run for re-election this past November.

Kasunich was a board member for seven years, and decided not to run for re-election in 2011. She returned following Kathy Styles-Landgraf’s resignation from the board in June of 2011. Styles-Landgraf’s term was up at the end of this year, and Kasunich decided not to run for the seat.

Find out what's happening in Gallowaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It’s an honor to work on this board,” Kasunich said during her final meeting Monday night at the middle school.

Iannacone was first elected to the board in 1994, and received a binder from Tim Meadows when he left the board in 1997. On Monday night, he gave that binder to Board Member Suzette Cordero.

Find out what's happening in Gallowaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Bob, I respect you as a board member, and I know how important this is,” Cordero said. “Thank you.

“Eileen, as a new board member, it was nice to have members like you who were always welcoming.”

Each member of the Board of Education took their turn expressing their gratitude to the departing members.

“This is a tight board that works well together, and we will miss two of our senior members,” Board President Ernest Huggard said.

“Bob has many legacies, and I think the excellent condition of the buildings is your greatest legacy,” Board Member Bob Knorr said. “You’re our chair of negotiations, and you’ve always been able to work them out. I met Eileen in 1994, and her legacy is that she’s done an excellent job on policy.”

“As a new board member, both were very helpful,” Board Member Beverly Evensen said. “They each gave me a lot of tips. We will each remember you in different ways, and that should not take away from your overall contributions.”

“I want to thank you both for all the years you’ve spent on the board. I appreciate you both,” Board Member Rosemary Hollway said. “Bob’s wit made it easier for all of us at times. I hope we see both of you again.”

"Eileen, you've done a fantastic job, and Bob, no comment," joked Board Member Rich Dase, who attends Galloway Township Council meetings alongside Iannacone at every opportunity.

“Bob and I have intense conversations, but they always ended well,” Board Vice President George Schwenger said. “I want to thank you both for all your service.”

“Bob joined us shortly after I retired,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Annette Giaquinto, who was principal when one of Iannacone’s children was in school. “You and I spent hours building (the middle school) and I see that as one of your legacies. Eileen, you always had the best interests of the children at heart.”

Iannacone called serving on the school board “one of the most pleasurable things I’ve ever done.”

“I think I’m going to miss it,” Iannacone said. “I’ve done this for 19 years. This is my greatest accomplishment. We have a great staff, great parents, and a great board. We’ve had our differences, but we never had arguments where we didn’t talk to each other. I’m going to miss it, but it’s time to move on.”

However, he wasn’t going to leave without having the final word on policy.

“You have to stress to the public that we have to get these roofs done,” Iannacone said. “If we don’t get them done, we’re going to have a situation like we did earlier this year where you have to close down schools to clean mold and it costs us half a million dollars. I think you should go out to referendum again. These buildings are going to be 25 or 27 years old before you’re doing them. You have to keep pushing it. That’s the final thing I’m going to say in this building.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here