After Jack O’Leary’s abrupt departure, Christine Fiumara Agron is appointed to fill school board vacancy

The Delaware Valley school board appointed Christine Fiumara Agron to fill vacancy left by longtime member Jack O’Leary, who resigned abruptly on Sept. 9.

Agron was appointed at the board’s Oct. 7 work session and will serve the rest of O’Leary’s term, which runs through 2023. The school board president, Jack Fisher, was absent.

Agron received six yes votes, with only Brian Carso voting no. Rosemary Walsh said she voted yes to preserve unity on the board, which lately has been riven by disagreements over the state’s school mask mandate.

Carso and Walsh are the only members who support the mandatory wearing of masks in school. In late September, the rest agreed to let parents decide.

School board member Dawn Bukaj said Agron has repeatedly demonstrated the qualities needed to serve on the board. “She doesn’t have a political agenda,” she said.

School board member Corey Homer said, “Christine is always here.”

In her presentation to the board, Agron said she has volunteered at three schools in the district and now serves as treasurer of the Dingman-Delaware Middle School PTA. She took on yearbook responsibilities at the elementary school from 2017 to 2020. Before having children, she managed human resources for Anderson Consulting.

Both her sons attend Dingman Delaware Middle School. “I want to leverage my skills and experience to contribute to DV’s impressive track record as a district that provides academic excellence as well as opportunities for the kids to grow into well-rounded productive adults,” she said.

Before Agron was nominated, Carso nominated Sue Casey. He cited her long tenure on the board that would allow her to step in with ease. Walsh seconded Carso’s nomination. But five board members voted no.

Eight people in all sought to fill the vacant seat.

The board heard four-minute speeches from Lisa Addio, Matthew Contreras, Brian Fells, Sharmie Ford, John Johnson, and Douglas J. Manion, MD, along with Casey and Agron. Dr. Manion’s speech was read by school board candidate Meg Rosenfeld because Manion was out of town on business.

The board adjourned to an executive session to consider a student issue and said they would not return after the session.

The next regular board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Oct. 21 in the Delaware Valley High School auditorium.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated from the original to correct some errors and to add more information.