From having members with a construction or medical background to having members who are parents, Kimberley Finnerty said that it’s vital for the West Jefferson Hills School Board to have members who carry different areas of expertise.
“Our board benefits when we have diverse perspectives,” Finnerty said. “You have to allow for people to bring their perspective. We can’t be close-minded.”
And the reorganization in December offered just that.
Finnerty was reappointed as president, Suzanne Downer was appointed as first vice president and Chris Zacur was appointed as second vice president. Kristin Shoemaker and Adam Rice were reelected in November, and the board welcomed Katie Noel.
Although differing perspectives are important, Finnerty said that it’s also vital that members put the best interest of the students first when it comes to decision making.
“That common goal … is huge,” she said.
As leader of the board, Finnerty said she will work to obtain this by creating clear lines of communication, ensuring the policies are being followed correctly and making sure the board agrees to disagree.
She said this is specifically important when it comes to their current project of seeking to renovate buildings within the district to accommodate the growing enrollment. Finnerty said that they are in the early talks of building a new school.
The district has been completing feasibility studies since 2024 to assess if they have the capacity for the increasing numbers.
“We have to address the growth proactively,” she said.