Vacancies Remain On Wall BOE After Two Resignations

Vacancies remain on the Wall Board of Education now that two members have quit within the past two months.

The district has confirmed that Joe Tonzola, who previously served as the panel's vice president, has resigned; John Tavis, who previously served as president, quit in March.

Tonzola served on the board for about a year. On the district's website, empty profile photos replaced the pictures of Tonzola and Tavis.

Tavis, who in November was elected in an uncontested race to a three-year term, quit the board after saying he simply did not have the time to dedicate to the position that he feels it deserves.

In a short prepared speech during the board's March meeting, Tavis thanked the board members for their support during his 23 months on the 9-member panel. Tavis was first elected to a one-year unexpired term in 2011.

“Unless you’re a board member, you do not realize how much work is involved,’’ Tavis said. “They do not do it for the money, because there is none. They do not do it for the praise, as that is very rare.”

Tavis was praised by his fellow board members.

“John you have been an absolute pleasure to work with,’’ board President Eva Applegate said.

“I’m heartbroken,” board member Robin Cervantes, a former election running mate, said. “You are still quite the teacher who has taught me for the last two years. Every question I’ve ever asked, you’ve always had an answer and you’ve always done it with kindness and compassion. I thank you again for everything, John. It’s been an amazing two years.”

Tavis was first elected to the board in April 2011 -- a year when no incumbent won re-election to the Board of Education following the disclosure in Wall Patch that an incumbent member heading up the finance committee was under a lifetime federal ban from having dealings with credit unions.

Tavis, – the third president of that year.