Palamand Earns Second Term as Board President

In a 4-3 vote, Venki Palamand was elected to a second term as Mehlville school board president Wednesday night.

Palamand was first elected to serve on the board in 2010 and . After the vote, Palamand said he was looking forward to another year of working with the board and Superintendent Eric Knost.

Knost presided over the officer nominations and Rich Franz began by nominating Mark Stoner for board president.

New board member Katy Eardley seconded the nomination before Ron Fedorchak nominated Palamand. Elaine Powers seconded that nomination.

Palamand won by a 4-3 margin with Franz, Stoner and Eardley voting for Stoner.

The president said the board has much to accomplish, but felt positive about the support he received.

“I’d like to think that I give plenty of time to differing views to be heard during board meetings,” he said.

“Venki’s done a great job, but obviously the voters spoke a year ago when Mark (Stoner) and I were elected along with Elaine (Powers),” Franz said about nominating another board member. "There was a definite move on the part of the electorate to send a conservative message to the board and in keeping with the commitment I’ve made to listen to the taxpayers and voters, I felt it was appropriate to appoint someone who represented that conservative position.”

The offices for board vice president, secretary and treasurer all had one nomination with unanimous approval.

Powers will serve as the vice president and Larry Felton was elected secretary. Current Chief Financial Officer Noel Knobloch will remain as treasurer.

The officers will serve a one-year term starting July 15.