Thomas Ruggio Elected President of the District 68 School Board

Woodridge School District 68 held its re-organization meeting Monday night, electing a new president and re-electing its vice president and secretary. 

The board installed its new members, Patti Cash and Scott Salerno, during the meeting. Cash and Salerno are filling the spots of Ann Schweizer and Dean Nicol. Schweizer served 12 years on the board and was its former president. Nicol served four years on the board.

The election of board officers 

After installing its new members, the board nominated and elected its officers. These elections take place every two years after school board elections.

Ruggio and Brian Rychlec were nominated for the position of president. Scott Coley nominated Ruggio. Leslie Pollack nominated Brian Rychlec.

Jeff Cortez, Scott Coley and Ruggio voted for Ruggio. Pollack, Rychlec and Cash voted for Rychlec. 

Newly elected board member Scott Salerno was the tie-breaker and voted for Ruggio. 

Ruggio said the election was a pleasant surprise. "I thought down the road this might happen, but I wasn't expecting it at this point," he said. "I'm honored to follow Ann (Schweizer)." 

Ruggio has been a member of the board for six years and is on his second term. He is a retired teacher and administrator who worked in Naperville School District 203 as a learning disability resource teacher, the assistant director of special education and assistant principal for two of the district's elementary schools. 

Jeff Cortez then nominated Rychlec for vice president. No other members were nominated for the position, and the board voted in his favor unanimously.

Board Secretary Coleen Kennedy was also re-elected unanimously. She has served as board secretary since 2005. 

Schweizer and Nicol's remarks

Both Schweizer and Nicol addressed the board after Cash and Salerno had been installed. Schweizer said it was her honor to serve on the board, and it was a humbling experience to be president. 

"I think you will be great board members, and I hope you are the champion of kids at District 68," she said. 

Nicol said he was very grateful for the people who "look after our kids." He said he was thankful for the opportunity to give back to the community. He advised the board as a tax payer to keep a watch on the district's fund balance and to challenge the administration when necessary. 

He said what impressed him most about the district was the ability of everyone to walk away with respect for one another. 

Pollack said Schweizer was very intelligent, funny and passionate; a really good president. She said Nicol had brought intelligence and passion to the board, as well, and encouraged Nicol to run for a position on the board again in the future. 

"We know you have family obligations," she told Nicol. "You're really busy. But I think you bring a lot to the table."