Schools
The Colonial School Board Candidate Who Won The Most Votes Fails To Be Sworn Into Office
Patti Donofrio, with the most votes in the Colonial School Board race, was not there to be sworn into office in early Dec. Vacancy exists.
UPDATE: 12/15/21 — Editor's Note: This story was updated with new information on Wednesday morning explaining why Patti Donofrio was unable to be sworn-in to the school board.
PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — When Judge Wendy Rothstein swore in three new Colonial School Board members earlier this month, one name was noticeably missing from the agenda.
Following November's municipal elections, the top vote-getter on the Colonial School Board ticket was Patti Donofrio.
Find out what's happening in Plymouth-Whitemarshfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Montgomery County election returns showed that Donofrio got a total of 9,227 votes, nearly one thousand more than the next runner up in terms of total votes.
But Donofrio was not at the school board's reorganization meeting back on Dec. 1, when the other three new board members — Jimina Clay, William Winchester, Jr. and Gail Plant — took their respective oaths of office.
Find out what's happening in Plymouth-Whitemarshfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The school district has since posted a vacancy on the board, soliciting interested individuals who are looking to serve a temporary appointed term on the school board until the next municipal election.
Patch reached out to the office of Superintendent Michael Christian and was told that interviews would begin on Thursday for the open school board seat. All submissions were due on Monday.
Patch also reached out to Donofrio on Facebook but a message left with her was not immediately returned.
During the meeting, board members addressed the matter, referencing a letter from Donofrio from Nov. 3 saying that she would not be joining the board because she was unable to fulfill the duties of the office. Specific reasons were not offered as to why Donofrio felt she could not carry out the duties of office.
In other news, it is being reported that this recent election may mark the first time in Colonial School Board history that Black candidates were elected to the body. The trio of recently sworn-in members are all people of color.
Patch will bring you more information about the board vacancy if, and when, it becomes available.
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