Keegan will join Wilson on Worthington school board

 

Worthington residents braved a cold and blustery wind to cast their votes Tuesday, Nov. 6, and by the end of the night, appointed board member Charlie Wilson had won his bid for a four-year term and newcomer Julie Keegan was elected to a first term on the Worthington school board.

Keegan was the top vote-getter by a hair in the race for two seats, receiving 5,794 votes, or 40.33 percent, according to unofficial results from the Franklin County Board of Elections.

Wilson received 5,787 votes, or 40.28 percent, and candidate Geoffrey Scott earned 2,787 votes, or 19.4 percent.

Wilson, 55, was appointed to his seat in February to finish out Gary Tyack's term, which expires at the end of the year.

"I was gratified by the community response and I think it is confirmation that the board is doing a very good job," he said.

Wilson said the district's challenges for the the next four years include "moving our schools into the 21st century."

"We'll be working on the elementary review improvements, more alternative programs in the middle schools and curriculum innovations at the high school," he said. "I think tonight was a strong, emphatic vote for making our schools fit our kids. We need to focus on creating more resources for children who speak English as a second language and for kids on individual education plans, and for helping all of our students succeed."

Wilson is an attorney and an associate law professor at Ohio State University. His wife is Melonie Buller, and his sons are Richard Wilson and Geoffrey Buller, both graduates of Worthington Kilbourne High School.

Keegan, 39, will begin her four-year term when she is sworn in at the first organizational board meeting in January.

"I'm excited and thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to the school district I think the world of," she said. "I've been attending all the board meetings and I feel like I've developed good relationships with the building principals and other board members and I will continue to meet with them and get to know the issues so that I can hit the ground running in January.

"I'm looking forward to discussing with the community the ideas that have come out of our elementary review program and hopefully being able to input some of those exciting changes into the not-too-distant future," she said.

Keegan is a graduate of Worthington schools and an attorney who opted to stay home and raise her four children. Her husband is Mike and her children are Josh, 14; Casey, 12; Quinn, 9; and Layne, 6.

She was one of five finalists selected by board members out of 26 applicants for an appointed position on the school board, which went to Wilson in February.

Scott also is an attorney and Worthington graduate. He wished both winners well.

"I think the Worthington school district will do just fine with Julie and Charlie on the board," he said. "We were all similar candidates who wanted the same things, and I think Worthington has done very well for itself."