Goodman chosen as new school board member
Mar. 25—GOSHEN — In a 5-0 vote Monday night, the Goshen School Board appointed Keith Goodman as a new school board member, filling the seat left vacant by Allan Kauffman.
"My main goal is to be a good board member," Goodman said. "In order to do that, you've got to come ready to listen, you've got to come prepared for the agendas. When I was a board member, I would take several hours to prepare for a meeting, and read through the materials to make sure I knew any questions."
On Saturday, the board had voted in Alexa Ponce as Kauffman's replacement. However, because of connectivity issues, a member of the board who was participating virtually was unable to vote.
Board President Roger Nafziger explained during the Monday night meeting that without board member Maria Sanchez Schirch's vote, the board did not have a true majority, since the remaining five board members voted for Ponce 3-2.
The decision was rendered invalid and a new vote took place during the school board meeting Monday night. Goodman was chosen 5-0, with Sanchez Schirch not in attendance. Goodman was chosen over Ponce and Jose Luis Gutierrez.
Goodman is a returning member of the board, having served from 2016-2020. He ran uncontested in District 4. He also ran at-large in the 2022 election cycle but was beaten out by Mario Garber and Roger Nafziger, sitting board members.
"One thing that hasn't changed is the mission hasn't changed, the goals haven't changed," he said. "Demographics continue to change but they're all students and we all have the same goal and if you're a taxpayer or a community member within Goshen schools, you want a return on your investment. We need to be guardians of that and work with the superintendent to achieve the goals that he has outlined and be a part of the team."
Goodman is a 1982 Goshen High School graduate, and a Goshen College graduate, working as a commercial lender.
He's the treasurer of the Building Trades Committee, also serves on Goshen Community Schools Building Corp. 1, and is a Kiwanis member.
"Basically ever since graduation I have volunteered in some way for Goshen Community Schools," Goodman said. "I've never said no to them."
Goodman will retain the 4th District seat on the board until the end of the year.
"It's not a new experience, but there's always plenty of learning opportunities," Goodman said.
Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at dani.messick@goshennews.com or at 574-538-2065.
