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player ready...A pair of newcomers backed by Elmwood Park Village President Angelo “Skip” Saviano grabbed seats on the Elmwood Park School Board Tuesday.
New board member Andrea Sciullo grabbed a total of 1,035 votes. Lauren Platt, the second newcomer, brought in 952 votes.
Incumbent Peter Volpe, brother of Elmwood Park Village Manager Paul Volpe, won his spot again with 1,171 votes.
Mary Bruscato, the board’s president, kept her seat with 938 votes.
Former board incumbents Michael Scheidt and Jason Shipinski didn’t make the cut for another four-year term.
The source of Volpe, Sciullo and Platt’s success could have been a recommendation from Elmwood Park Village President Angelo “Skip” Saviano. Although the three candidates did not run as a slate, their names were grouped together on campaign literature before the election, in which Saviano gave the trio his seal of approval.
Saviano said he had no problem with the other candidates, but believed these three were the best.
“I thought it was time for a change,” he said. “We matched them up against the other three incumbents.”
He said at times, a superintendent has more influence on a board, but the candidates he recommended had the skills and background to make sound decisions about educational issues as well.
“We want to make sure there are good checks and balances there,” he said. “I have nothing against those three individuals. This is fresh blood with good qualifications.”
Bruscato, an incumbent who wasn’t on Saviano’s list, said her victory is bittersweet.
“I’m thrilled that I won, but I’m upset that I lost two incumbents,” she said.
She said Saviano’s recommendations definitely made the difference in the outcome of the school board election, but didn’t think it was necessary.
“That’s what put them over the top,” she said. “The school board isn’t a political position. We are here to represent the community and educate the children of our community first and foremost.”
Still, she believes they can all still move forward together.
“I look forward to working with them,” she said. “I’m sure we’ll have our points of view and get along. I’m sure we’ll do great things.”
Sciullo, a teacher who has a child in the school district, said that she’s overwhelmed with being chosen by the voters.
“I can’t wait to move the schools forward,” she said. “It’s all about the kids.”
Peter Volpe said he’s ready to serve on the school board again.
“I couldn’t be happier with four more years to serve the village,” he said. “I look forward to getting our initiatives started.”
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Shipinski, who has been on the board for two years, wasn’t happy about his loss and the low voter turnout as well on Election Day.
“I’m disappointed that I will not be able to help and it’s tough when you have a low voter turnout, but the people came out and I guess it speaks for itself,” Shipinski said. “I will continue to be involved in the school and we’ve done a lot of good things over the last two years so it was a little disappointing about the outcome.”