POPLAR RIDGE - The Southern Cayuga Central School District Board of Education will have a veteran and a newcomer leading it this year.

During its reorganizational meeting Wednesday, the board elected Ted Rejman to his fourth term - though non-consecutive - as president and freshly seated board member Bruce Kopp as vice president, both contended races.

Rejman vied for a fourth term last year, but was not elected, as four board members wanted to give Leonard Jordan - whose seat on the board expired last month - a chance to be president. That meeting last year was tumultuous, with board members voicing concerns about respect and support.

This year, however, was markedly quieter, with board members lightly questioning leadership nominees Rejman, Kopp and Dean Winspear - who just completed his first term as vice president - on how they could execute the responsibility of the positions.

Board member Joe Lonsky threw Winspear's name into the hat for president and Teresa Lipfert nominated Rejman.

Prior to the vote, Rejman reiterated the importance of having debate on the board and people speaking their minds while making decisions, but unifying once a decision is made.

“Whatever we decide here, there can't be any animosity, there can't be any split board, there can't be any of this moving forward just because we have differences in opinion,” he said. “Whoever it is that is going to sit in that chair needs to be aware that everyone of us, we all have our own ideas and own opinions and it's up to us to voice them.”

Winspear said he agreed “100 percent,” that debate is good so long as everyone comes to consensus in the end.

And that is what happened with the vote, as a motion to elect Winspear as president failed 4-2. Rejman was elected president by a vote of 5-0 with Lonsky abstaining. Neither candidate voted in the election.

“That doesn't change anything between you and I as friends,” Rejman said to Winspear.

Lonsky then nominated Winspear as vice president, with Lipfert nominating Kopp.

“I'd be happy with either of you,” Lonsky said to the candidates, “but Dean's been here a long time and I'll keep trying as long as you're here.”

Kopp was elected unanimously as vice president; the motion to elect Winspear was defeated 6-1.

In other news:

* By a vote of 4-3, the board approved a resolution that will compensate teachers $100 for attending three summer meetings of the Long Range Facilities Planning Committee.

Superintendent Mary Kay Worth is requiring each district department to send representatives to the meetings, during which there will be discussions on the next phase in proposed plans to close Emily Howland Elementary School and move all students to an enlarged middle/high school campus in Poplar Ridge.

Worth said a financial incentive would be helpful to get teachers to come, as this is outside curriculum work. But Lonsky, Kopp and newly appointed board member Robb Jetty II couldn't understand why the district needed to compensate these representatives.

“It isn't a lot of money,” Lonsky said. “It just doesn't make any sense to me why they can't come in as volunteers to give some input.”

* The next board meeting is slated for 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at the high school library, Route 34B, Poplar Ridge.

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net