For the week of May 14 - 20, 2003

School board elections are Monday

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The KECH radio show "Talk of the Valley" will host the three candidates at noon today, May 14.

The elections are scheduled from noon to 8 p.m. Monday, May 20 at Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum. Absentee ballots are available from the school district. Contact Clerk of the Board Cathy Zaccardi at 788-9491.

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

The Blaine County School Board election Tuesday, May 20, pits three Ketchum residents—Alex Sundali, Chuck Turner and Mike Riviello—against each other for the Zone 4 spot on the board.

After two terms of three years each, School Board member Kate Parnes is not running for re-election in Zone 4.

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Mike Riviello moved to Ketchum two years ago from Atherton, Calif., with his wife, Susan, and son Taylor, 11, who is in fifth grade at Ernest Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum. In California, Riviello had started and then sold a software company, Firefly. He is currently involved in venture consulting.

He is on the board of the Red Cross of Idaho, the Wood River Land Trust fund-rasing committee, and on the board of Bizworld, a nonprofit company that provides curriculum about real world experience in schools.

Riviello has been visiting the valley for 20 years.

"I want to take an active role in the future of our kids," Riviello said. "I know I’m new to the valley, but I’m looking towards the future. I am really impressed by (District Superintendent) Dr. (Jim) Lewis’ approach.

"I’m not an agent of change. I think I can help manage and bring my experience to the board. I have some ideas and am willing to listen, but I have no preconceived issues."

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Alex Sundali is the mother of three Wood River Valley students: Anya, 15, is a freshman at Wood River High School; Taylor, 13, is in eighth grade at Wood River Middle School; and Daniel, 11, is in fifth grade at Hemingway.

Sundali has lived here 23 years. Among her community service activities, she is an active member of Blaine County Democrats, and has worked on campaigns. She is a full-time substitute teacher with Blaine County School District, and a supporter of Sun Valley Junior Hockey. She is also currently the president of 5B Swimming, a member of Papoose Club and a chair of the Hemingway Elementary Tech Room, which is privately funded. As well, she was a volunteer at Moritz Hospital, was the former president of Hulen Meadows Water Company and Home Owners Association, served on the search committee for St. Thomas Episcopal Church’s new pastor, and was on the board of Wood River Land Trust.

"I’m committed to community service," she said. "I want to see excellence in education continue, and am very progressive, I was raised by a public school teacher and believe in our public schools. The more you put in the more you get out."

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Chuck Turner was a teacher at the Wood River High School for 17 years and served one year as vice principal. He was then made principal of Wood River Junior High School for 14 years, which eventually became the Wood River Middle School. He left the district’s employ in 1999 after 32 years.

Turner was a part of the Northwest Regional & State Accreditation Committee and was 1995 Principal of the Year for secondary schools in Idaho.

He is now the Wood River Disaster Services coordinator, and has worked for the Forest Service for 36 years. He has three stepchildren, graduates of WRHS, whom he raised with his wife, Eileen.

"I want to be actively involved," he said. "I feel the perspective of history and I’m not going in with an agenda."

 

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