Grover named chairman of Duluth School Board

Tim Grover was named the new chair of the Duluth School Board tonight at an organizational district meeting.

Grover, who was first elected to the School Board in 1991, will replace Nancy Nilsen, who served as board chair throughout 2008.

Grover was the only board member nominated for the post so his rank was declared by acclamation.

In that role he will be in charge of facilitating and leading board meetings throughout the coming year, which will likely prove time consuming as the district's long-range facilities plan continues to unfold. The board also faces the task of repairing a multi-million dollar deficit this year.

"We have a lot of work to do, particularly in the new few months," Grover said. He noted the pending board discussions on a revised construction schedule and boundary line for the long-range facilities plan. "There are a lot of pieces that still need to be put together."

He steps into the role at a time when pockets of the community are still vocally opposing the long-range plan.

"I will strive as Chair Nilsen did to be respectful and receptive and attentive to the expressed desires and wishes of the community and to be responsive to them as best I can," Grover said. "Whether I will succeed in that process, I guess time will tell."

At the same meeting, Board member Laura Condon was named vice chair, Judy Seliga-Punyko treasurer and Nancy Nilsen board clerk.