Plumsted school board fills vacancy

Kathleen Sandford will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Keith Buckalew.

By: Scott Morgan
   PLUMSTED — The Board of Education has appointed a replacement to a seat left open by a recently resigned member.
   Kathleen Sandford, a resident of Oak Leaf Drive, was appointed to fill the vacancy of three-term school board member Keith Buckalew, who resigned in December for personal reasons.
   Ms. Sandford will finish Mr. Buckalew’s term, which expires in April. At that time, she would have to run for the seat if she wanted to serve a full, three-years.
   She was sworn in at the board’s Jan. 20 meeting.
   Board President Herb Marinari said Ms. Sandford, a mother of two middle school children, brings a valuable, parent-oriented perspective to the board. He said she’s been an active member in school organizations for several years and that she was the candidate most familiar to the board in a field of eight prospective members.
   "I think I’ve got a pretty good handle on the way things work," said Ms. Sandford, a 16-year township resident. "I’ve been involved with pretty much every organization in the school district."
   After pitching in around the district for so long, Ms. Sandford said she felt it was time to take the full plunge.
   "I’ve been going back and forth about (running for school board) for a while," she said, "and now the kids are old enough for me to be out at night."
   Ms. Sandford said she waited so she could be a full-time mom for her growing kids. Now that they’re old enough, she said it is time to get more involved.
   "Whatever you can do for the school board, you should do it," she said.
   And her family seems to be on board with her being on the board.
   "They’re very positive about it," Ms. Sandford said.
   Mr. Marinari said Ms. Sandford will be a welcome addition to the board. She has spent much of her non-mom time helping out on a host of district volunteer organizations and events, he added.
   "She’ll fit right in," Mr. Marinari said.
   Ms. Sandford seems to agree.
   "I have a lot to offer," she said. "I think it’ll all work out really well."