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State audit flags WVW for disappearing fund balance, reporting error

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LSA grant applications approved, venue change requested for Wilkes-Barre sewer sale presentation

<p>WRIGHT TWP. &#8212; In what arguably was the most significant reorganization meeting held among Luzerne County&#8217;s 11 school Districts, Crestwood School Board swore in four new members to the nine-member board, replacing incumbents who either lost their reelection bids in the primary or opted not to seek another term.</p><p>James Brogna, Stacey Haddix, Kimberly Spath and Lauren McCurdy were sworn in Thursday. The four had run together as the &#8220;United for Change&#8221; team. The only returning incumbent from a majority that withstood frequent criticism in the past two years was Anna Hollock Bibla, who won her first four-year term on the board. She joined in 2017 by winning a special two-year seat.</p><p>The board was guaranteed a new president after Bill Jones lost in the primary. He recently headed his last meeting before departing the board. But the person taking his place for the next year isn&#8217;t a new face. In a 5-4 vote with all four newcomers against, James Costello &#8212; vice president for the past year &#8212; was named president.</p><p>After the meeting, Brogna said he could only speak for himself but that he felt Costello had made too many questionable votes on the board in the last two years. He said he has spoken with Costello and had no personal objections to him, and conceded none of the new members could likely get the president&#8217;s job, &#8220;nor should they.&#8221; But he wasn&#8217;t comfortable voting for Costello.</p><p>Barry Boone was unanimously chosen as vice president, Maureen McGovern was elected secretary, and Brogna was named treasurer.</p><p>The reconstituted board has its first meeting for regular business votes set for Dec. 19, five days after the deadline for interested firms to submit proposals on a planned feasibility study, meaning the board may have a chance to award a contract.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Four new members of the Crestwood School Board take the oath of office during Thursday&#8217;s reorganization meeting. Standing from left are Stacy Haddix, Kimberly Spath, Lauren McCurdy and James Brogna. Anna Hollock Bibla, the lone incumbent to win reelection, was also sworn in. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/web1_20191205_183148.jpg</photo0><caption0>Four new members of the Crestwood School Board take the oath of office during Thursday&#8217;s reorganization meeting. Standing from left are Stacy Haddix, Kimberly Spath, Lauren McCurdy and James Brogna. Anna Hollock Bibla, the lone incumbent to win reelection, was also sworn in. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Four new members take seat on Crestwood School Board