Dr. Ken Savage

Two Lee County School Board members and the interim superintendent were thanked for their services Wednesday, their last board meeting.

“I am honored to recognize Dr. Ken Savage for his exceptional commitment and willingness to serve as the interim superintendent for the second time. He has a passion for data analytics and took a deep dive into historical academic performance spanning a decade. (He saw that) transformative changes were needed to ensure academic outcomes that were more aligned with a world class school system. It was not easy, or universally accepted,” Deputy Superintendent Jennifer Cupid-McCoy said, adding that “prioritizing the needs of our students was paramount.”

Savage said he has been an administrator for almost 20 years now with almost all of that time spent in the School District of Lee County. To have the opportunity to serve in the superintendent role is his greatest professional privilege that he could ever imagine, he added.

“When you see this system through a lens of how critical it is for the entire community — you impact the daily lives of so many people. It is an incredible privilege and humbling every single day,” Savage said.

He said he got to be the chief ambassador for a lot of people that work so very hard to try to help serve the community.

Cathleen O'Daniel Morgan

“I will never be able to thank them enough. It’s an honor — so grateful for all my colleagues past and present. What an opportunity it has been to serve this board, to work with you,” Savage said.

District 7 school board member Cathleen Morgan and District 3 board member Chris Patricca were also honored for the time they dedicated to the district on the board.

Morgan served on the board for 12 years. She was first elected in November 2012.

“While I won’t miss my seat, I won’t,” she said laughing. “I will miss the opportunities I have had to connect, collaborate, and strategize with district employees and community members. I love to work with people who care and feel as passionately as I for high quality education for all as it is more critical than ever,” she said Wednesday night. “It has been an enormous pleasure to learn and grow beside you.”

Morgan said the district has hardworking and dedicated individuals.

Chris Patricca

“I see children thriving. The people doing the work for growing students for life and work after school are my heroes,” she said. “You cannot begin to imagine the respect I have for each one of you — bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, teachers, support staff and school leaders. I will miss conversations about the important work. I am profoundly grateful for the chance to work with you — a privilege and honor I will always cherish.”

Patricca served on the board for eight years. She was first elected in November 2016.

“This is meant to be a fond farewell. It is time for me to say goodbye,” she said. “The first two years on this board were by far and hands down were the best. The last two were a close second. The middle four were character building. Thankfully, an election brought in a new level of professionalism.”

The best part of being a board member, she said, was the people.

“In every single corner of this county, we have staff that puts other people in front of themselves every day,” Patricca said.

Superintendent-elect Denise Carlin, newly elected board members Vanessa Chaviano and Bill Ribble, as well as Melissa Giovanneli, who was re-elected for another term, will be sworn in at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19.