Columbia School Board appoints two new school directors

District Justice Miles Bixler (left) swears in new school board directors Elena Young and Lester Putt.

The Columbia Borough School Board appointed new school board directors at its October 1, 2024 committee meeting. Elena Young and Lester Putt will take seats vacated by Ryan Sexton and Michael Burke, respectively. Both terms run through Dec. 1, 2025. District Justice Miles Bixler swore in Young and Putt.

Scott Ryno and Thomas Ziegler also applied for the open positions. 

Left to right: Lester Putt, Scott Ryno, Elena Young, and Thomas Ziegler interviewed for the open positions at Tuesday’s Columbia Borough School Board meeting. 

The votes

The board nominated Young and Ryno to replace Sexton. Young received four votes to Ryno's three.

Ryno and Putt were nominated to replace Burke. Putt received four votes, and Ryno three.

Reasons for the open positions

The school board voted unanimously to dismiss member Ryan Sexton in September 2024, citing his absence as the reason for his termination. Sexton missed six meetings, including three workshops and three full board meetings.

Michael Burke, who was elected for a two-year term in November 2023, resigned in September 2024.