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Marietta BOE fills vacancy

The Marietta City Schools Board of Education swore in longtime educator, Roger Bartunek, 68, of Marietta during Monday night’s meeting. Bartunek, who is retired, fills the vacancy left  by Karen Burton, who recently passed away.

Bartunek’s appointment was by a unanimous vote of the board.

“We appreciate each of the candidates we interviewed tonight,” said board president, Bill Hutchinson. “We are sorry to only be able to pick one because really any of them would’ve made a good board member.”

During November’s regular board meeting, three candidates were interviewed to fill the vacancy. These members were retired superintendent, Roger Bartunek, owner of Mallett Rentals, Doug Mallett, and owner of Alliance Industries Inc., John Lehman.

Bartunek will fill the empty seat for the term that runs until the end of 2017.

“I really hope I can live up to Karen’s dedication,” said Bartunek. “But I am really excited to be back into education and working for the community.”

Bartunek was an educator for 40 years of his career until he retired about four years  ago. He’s served every level of education including elementary school president, high school principal, superintendent for the Washington County Career Center, and superintendent for Washington County.

“I just appreciate the board having faith in me,” he said.

In the wake of Burton’s death, this decision wasn’t an easy one to make.

“Karen was very nice to work with,” said Hutchinson. “She had a perspective nobody else on the board had.”

Bartunek said he hopes to use his experience in the education system and put it to good use for Marietta City Schools.

“I am so humbled that the board has confidence in me and I hope I can earn their trust,” he said.

Three seats will also be open on the board in the November election next year for terms beginning in January 2018.

“This is such a great opportunity to be involved again and I am really looking forward to it,” said Bartunek.

The Marietta City Schools Board of Education will hold the next regular board meeting on December 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Administration Building located at 111 Academy Drive.

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