The Oxford Community Schools Board of Education kicked off its first meeting of the year by electing its officers for the 2018 calendar year on Jan. 9.

Tom Donnelly was unanimously elected to serve as the board’s president and spokesperson after being elected to the Board of Education in November 2017.

Donnelly was absent from the meeting.

Joyce Brasington was re-elected to serve as the board’s vice-president and Mark Stepek was re-elected to the position of secretary.

Both were re-elected with a 6-0 vote.

To the position of treasurer for the 2018 year, Jenny Guthrie was re-elected.

During the board comment session, several board members thanked Dan D’Alessandro for the two years he served as the board’s president and spokesperson.

“I just want to thank Dan for his service,” said Brasington. “It is not an easy position. We all work as trustees and different officers on the board but the board president really carries a huge responsibility. On behalf of this board and the entire community… thank you for serving.”

“Thanks to Dan,” Stepek later added. “I think you just did a phenomenal job as president during some tough times. We had some tough things to negotiate and you just handled it very well. So I’m very thankful for that.”