At the conclusion of the 2019 election season, D49 welcomes back familiar faces to the Board of Education and greeted a new member at the beginning of December.
Returning members include Kevin Butcher, Dave Cruson and John Graham. Graham appeared on the November ballot, but successfully maintained a position on the board for a second four-year term representing D49’s Director District 3.
During the swearing-in ceremony Dec. 2, Graham, former BOE Vice President was nominated and unanimously elected board President. Butcher was elected as the new board Vice President, and Cruson the new board Treasurer.
"I am excited and looking forward to a second term on the Board of Education and being part of the team that will lead D49 into the future,” Graham said. “I know our wonderful teachers and staff will continue to prepare our students to be ready for adult life and leaders in their chosen endeavors."
Joining the BOE representing Director District 2 is local realtor Rick Van Wieren. Van Wieren ran unopposed in the election of 2019, and says he is looking forward to the opportunity to serve on the D49 BOE.
“This is a terrific board to be a part of. I’m so grateful and excited about working with this team,” Van Wieren shared, giving credit to the board for establishing its current working environment. “[There is] thoughtful, respectful processing of real issues. I love that, and I want to be a part of that as a team.”
Van Wieren is a father of five and married to a career educator. The western Michigan native moved to Colorado in 1991 and has a business/political science degree from Hope College in Holland, Michigan. In his inaugural term with the BOE, Van Wieren will serve as the new board Secretary.
The board said goodbye to former President Marie La Vere-Wright who reached her term-limit in 2019. Director Joshua Fry also departed the BOE to explore other professional opportunities. With Dr. Fry’s departure, his former director’s position is now open, and the district is actively seeking an appointee for the vacancy.
Interested applicants must be a resident of the district’s 4th district area.
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