Jones, Guernsey to serve on Fostoria BOE

FOSTORIA—Based on the unofficial results from the Seneca County Board of elections, Thomas Guernsey and Nichole Jones will be taking their seats on the Fostoria City Schools Board of Education. In total, Jones received 1,062 votes, Guernsey received 939 votes and candidate Drew Shaver received 739 votes. Jones is new to the Fostoria Board of Education and is actively involved in the community and school. "Thank you Fostoria," Jones said. "I'm humbled and honored you have entrusted me with this responsibility. I look forward to working with the current board members to bring back accountability and oversight to the school administration. I believe the school board is now well positioned to have the leverage necessary to build up the school and the community. Jones said she encourages the community to support Fostoria City Schools by volunteering, attending board meetings, coaching, supporting clubs and more. "If you don't know how to get involved and you want to get involved, please call the school and let them know your interests or talents," she said. "Our kids are our future and we are all in this together. Together we can move mountains. Again, thank you all for your vote and I promise to utilize my position to make a positive difference." Guernsey has been on the board for 16 years, spending a majority of that time as board president. "Many of us as board members and administration have worked very hard and have many accomplishments over the last 10 years to be proud of," said Guernsey during an interview. "We have put this district in sound financial shape. We have invested in and embraced the leader in me and 4DX. We have achieved and continue to maintain lighthouse status at the elementary school." Guernsey said these programs help build the foundations of impacting students and helping them make positive life choices. "We have invested in our partnership with the Fostoria Learning Center and Terra State to offer CCP (college) classes to our students off campus," he said. "We have invested in our special education services, increasing services and adding programs such as our autism units. We have supported the creation of the academy for students who struggle learning in a traditional classroom or need positive behavior reinforcement. We continue to work to identify our gifted students and provide more enrichment services. We are looking to expand our elementary school and special needs preschool program." He explained he is proud of the Fostoria community and that voters in the district have provided him the "opportunity to continue to work and advocate for our children and this community that I am so proud of."