The school board reorganized its leadership and officially seated its newest member at its Oct. 12 meeting.

The board welcomed newly elected member Jayme Howell, who won the seat previously held by John DeRuyter following the completion of his three-year term. Howell took her seat alongside returning members as the panel conducted its annual reorganization after the Oct. 6 municipal election.

With DeRuyter exiting, the board required a new presiding officer. Board member Liz Roundtree nominated Dan Powers to serve as president, and the board voted unanimously to approve the appointment.

The panel filled the remaining leadership seats through identical unanimous votes. Roundtree was selected to serve as vice president, while Angela Allen, the board's longest-serving member, was chosen as board secretary.

Before adjourning the meeting, Powers made a point to recognize DeRuyter’s service to the district and school community.

“John served his full term and was very active and was president for the past year,” Powers said. “He did a good job and he will be missed. But he is still on an advisory committee, so I’m sure we’ll see him here again at some point.”

Before his election to the school board, DeRuyter spent more than two years as a member of the secondary school advisory committee.