After June deadlock, board is able to reach a majority vote
Robert Sage takes the oath of office from Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education President Victor Dupuis as board members Kathleen Do and Steven Simonson and Superintendent of Schools John Sanville look on Monday night.
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH — It took an extra few weeks, but in the end, it just took a few minutes to resolve.
Robert Sage of Pocopson was elected to replace Eileen Bushelow on the second ballot by the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education Monday night during a brief board meeting.
The board deadlocked on a appointing the new Region B (Birmingham, Newlin and Pocopson) board member back in June, forcing the special meeting Monday to decide between three candidates, Sage, Bennett Baird of Newlin and Hsinte (James) Yen of Birmingham.
Again, though, the eight board members split their choices on the first ballot — forcing a second ballot. Carolyn Daniels, Kathleen Do,and Victor Dupuis voted for Yen, while Jeff Hellrung, Keith Knauss and Steve Simonson voted for Sage. Michael Rock and Gregg Lindner voted for Baird. With only two votes, Baird dropped off for the second ballot.
On what proved to a be decisive second ballot, Sage got votes from Hellrung, Knauss, Rock, Simonson and Dupuis. Daniels, Do and Lindner supported Yen.
Still, all acknowledged how difficult the choice was and how strong each of the three candidates for the position were.
“All of our candidates were excellent,” Hellrung said. Noting that he had previously supported Baird in an earlier attempt to be appointed to the board, he noted that he would have been comfortable supporting any of the three candidates.
Sage will serve on the board until at least November, 2015. His Region B seat will be on the ballot in 2015. He said he was excited to be joining the board.
“I look forward to working with you to advance academic excellence,” he said.
He will chair the policy committee – which Bushelow chaired previously.
