Republic School Board swears in school board candidates, appoints officers

Longtime Supt. Wistrom says farewell to board members, faculty as retirement looms
The Republic School Board swore in the three winning candidates for school board during their meeting on Tuesday, June 16. Denny Lawson, John Parker and Tammy Messier resumed their seats on the board, after taking their oaths of office.
After the oaths were administered, the board selected their officers for the 2020-21 school year. The officers are: Todd Wojciechowski, board president; Tammy Messier, board vice-president; Rusty Swift, board treasurer; Sheryl Blankenship, board secretary; Travis Edwards, MSBA delegate; Mark Gimlin, MSBA delegate alternate; John Parker and Travis Edwards, TASK board representatives; Denny Lawson and Mark Gimlin, CLASS Board Representatives and Todd Wojciechowski and Denny Lawson facility committee board representatives.
The board also approved the Fiscal Year 2021 budget, the 2020-21 School Year salary schedules and appointed Dr. Matt Pearce to serve as the district’s representative on the TIF commission, beginning July 1.
Dr. Chance Wistrom also gave his final report as the district’s superintendent; he stands down on June 30; Dr. Pearce will succeed him as superintendent of July 1.
 In his farewell address, Dr. Wistrom praised the community and the district for their dedication to the students at Republic R-3.
“This will be my last superintendent letter as I enter retirement at the conclusion of this month,” he said. “Please know that it has been my honor to serve you the past eight years. It has been humbling to be a part of a team and community that is absolutely committed to our first priority of taking care of students and each other. I firmly believe that our RepMO team is unrivaled in their passion for students, servant leadership, work ethic, expertise, continuous improvement, and downright commitment to each other. For these reasons and many others, there is no other place that I would choose to send my children to be prepared for a successful future. I can’t wait to see the new heights that our RepMO team reaches and be assured that I will be its biggest cheerleader.”