OLEAN — A little over five years for one and just under one year for the other, Tuesday marked the final Olean Board of Education meeting for two of its members.

Kelly Keller, who was first appointed to the board to fill a vacancy in early 2020 and was elected to her seat later that spring, presided over her final meeting, serving as the board president since last July.

Meanwhile, Tatina Warmely, who served as the ex officio student member, also concluded her one year on the board Tuesday. She will graduate Saturday as a member of the Class of 2025.

Except for one other board member, Keller said everyone on the school board, and some of the district officials, are all different compared to when she first was appointed.

“Mary (Hirsch-Schena) is the only person from then left. Jenny (Bilotta, business administrator) joined shortly after that,” she said. “I want to thank everyone for their time and patience that you’ve had with me.”

Keller said doing the interview for the open seat — a phone call interview with the board while she was on vacation — was kind of a fiasco, but it all worked out.

“I started in January 2020, which was just before everything shut down,” she recalled, referring to the COVID-19 pandemic. “And it has kind of been a wild adventure ever since.”

Later elected to a full term, Keller said she had “the most odd experiences” during her five years serving on the board, but she’s also learned a lot.

“Everybody that I’ve worked with on this board over the years has taught me so many things,” she said. “From being able to disagree respectfully with people, to getting things done to learning how to navigate this district during a pandemic to learning how to Zoom, it’s been a really big jump during the five years.”

Keller acknowledged her family got use to her being gone once or twice a week for board business, but thanked her husband and in-laws for all they did while she was at meetings.

“I’m very excited to go on my first vacation in five years where I have zero expectations that I’ll have to call into a board meeting,” she added. “Thank you all. It’s been fun.”

Dr. Genelle Morris, Superintendent of Schools, thanked Keller for her service, leadership as board president and commitment to the district during her term.

“In the past, everyone who’s been board president is still here (the next school year), so I might need to call you sometimes,” Morris joked, adding sincerely, “I’m happy that you now get to spend that quality time with your family.”

PREPARING FOR graduation on Saturday, Warmley said she was thankful for her time on the board as its student member.

“I had a lot of fun being on the board,” she said. “I appreciate all of you guys so much.”

At the June 10 meeting, the board approved the appointments of upcoming seniors Olivia Black and Ava Moses as the next student members, starting July 1 and ending June 30, 2026.

To her successors, Warmley advised continuing to express themselves and to keep in touch with students of all grade levels throughout the district, calling the latter the most important thing as a way to connect with the students.

“Even just going into the classrooms and being interactive with the students,” she said, “since they look up to us and will eventually get to this point.”

Warmley also said to listen to the student body’s concerns and to say something if they hear or see something wrong.

Hirsch-Schena also congratulated Warmley for her time on the board, saying that she did a great job of representing all the students, even though one would think her focus would be in the high school.

“You really took that seriously,” she added. “When you would report back to us, it was really nice to hear of the things you were doing with our younger students.”

Keller agreed with Hirsch-Schena, saying that she made a point to ask the students the board interviewed for the next year if they were willing to go to all the schools and interact with students of all ages.

“You did a great job, and the students loved you,” she said.

Morris said Warmley set the bar high and the standard for what a student board member should be going forward. She also shared how excited she is for Warmley to be attending the University at Buffalo, where she received her master’s and doctorate degrees.

“Oh, I’m definitely coming back,” Warmley added.