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Kathleen Rhodes and Joe Sheppard were approved as board president and vice president, respectively, at a reorganization meeting at the Harriet Tubman Administration Building in Auburn Monday. Rhodes was nominated by board member Salvatore "Sam" Giangreco, seconded by board member Fred Cornelius. The board approved Rhodes unanimously.

Rhodes had expressed interest in the position at the board meeting last week. Rhodes, who had worked for the school district for years before joining the board in 2012, had served as vice president for four years. The previous president, Michael McCole, had served in the role for four years. McCole ran for another three-year term in May but lost to Rhodes, Giangreco and newcomer Ian Phillips.

For the vice president spot, Sheppard and Fred Cornelius were nominated. Sheppard was nominated by Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson, seconded by Eli Hernandez, who attended the meeting via Skype, and Cornelius was nominated by Giangreco and seconded by Jeff Gasper.

Hernandez said he believed that since Cayuga County Sheriff David Gould is set to retire, Cornelius would be "moving up" and that Sheppard is "young and he's going to keep moving us forward."

Overstreet-Wilson, Hernandez, Phillips and member William Andre voted for Sheppard, and Sheppard also voted for himself. Cornelius received votes from Giangreco, Rhodes and Gasper and himself.

Sheppard, who started with the board last year, is a full-time student at SUNY Oswego focusing on technology education and co-runs Finger Lakes Planning and Development, a municipal consulting firm.

Rhodes said after the meeting that the board will continue to focus on its budget.

"We have to present a budget that's going to be fiscally responsible to the community but yet we still have to educate our children and give the program that we have," Rhodes said.

In other news: 

The school board created an advocacy committee for the purpose of lobbying to receive foundation aid from the state for the district. 

Foundation aid is the base aid districts can receive. Phillips, who works for the New York State United Teachers union, suggested the creation of the commitee. Phillips said he envisions board members and community members on this committee, which would plan advocacy efforts.

Cornelius put forward a motion to table the new committee until more details for it were decided upon. That motion received yes votes from Cornelius, Gasper, Giangreco and Rhodes. Phillips, Hernandez, Overstreet-Wilson, Andre and Sheppard voted no. The group was added to the list of the board's committees. Phillips and Overstreet-Wilson will serve on the advocacy committee.

Since state officials are up for election in November, Phillips said, "this is a pressure point moment."

"All of you have your areas of expertise. My added value is escalating campaigns to put pressure on our elected officials, and I believe we really need to start today," Phillips said.