OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen
Board of Education member Steve Boothe, center, was celebrated for his years of service at his final Board of Education meeting. He is pictured with Board President Martha Howard, front left, and Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston, front right, along with fellow Board members standing behind him from left to right: Scott Pulver, Gregory Cole, Jerry Cross and Michael Grisanti. Not pictured is Vice President Matt Bogosian.
SILVER CREEK — After more than a decade of service to the Silver Creek Central School District, Steve Boothe attended his final meeting as a Board of Education member.
Boothe spoke highly of the Board as he said goodbye. He said to the Board, “You are one of the great assets of this community, and I’m not sure how many people really realize it. The amount of work that has to be put in, the sacrifice, but also it’s never about me, it’s always about we. … We always made it about we, and it’s exceptional to see how we were able to speak with one voice. That is something that truly is special.”
Boothe was honored at the conclusion of his final meeting on the Board. A reception was held in the lobby after the meeting. Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston was first to thank Boothe for his service. She noted, “You will always be part of the Board that hired me first, so thank you for that.”
Former Superintendent Todd Crandall and his wife also stopped by to say farewell to Boothe. Crandall said to Boothe, “We wouldn’t have missed a tribute to you.”
Boothe joined the Board of Education in 2013 after several years of work on the Audit Committee, beginning in 2010. He served as Board President as the District navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as through the allegations made against the District criticizing its use of a space for isolation. Boothe was gifted a gavel from the Board to commemorate his service.
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“Throughout his 14 years of service, Steve has shown himself to be a man of impeccable strength and character. In fact, when things got hard, it was Steve’s leadership and strength that lifted us up and held us together,” Board of Education President Martha Howard said.
Howard then addressed Boothe directly. “Steve, I just want you to know that your hard work and commitment in laying a strong foundation will play a part as Silver Creek moves forward and accomplishes great things,” Howard said.
Boothe noted that current Vice President Matt Bogosian urged him to run for a seat on the Board, then after what he jokingly called “multiple arm twistings” from Bogosian and the Audit Committee, he finally agreed. But doing so meant that Boothe missed even more time at home, already with a job that led to a lot of traveling.
Boothe’s wife, Tina, and his children, Tom, Hannah, Olivia, Sarah, and Sarah’s fiancé, Austin, all came to the meeting to support him on his final night as a Board member. Boothe spoke to the sacrifices his family made over the course of more than a decade of service he gave to the District.
“They supported me, even if it was just saving dad a plate of dinner that he missed, and now he has to eat it at 10:30,” Boothe said.
Boothe noted how impressed he was by the District through various levels, from past and present superintendents and teachers to clerical staff and the transportation department who work together to make the District what it is.
“When you’re around high functioning people like that, who make a difference for kids and have that laser focus every day, I’ve taken a little bit of what each of you have brought,” Boothe said.
In saying farewell to the Board, which Boothe noted was a tough thing to do, he said, “I will be cheering you on from the sidelines and I’ll be in your corner every step of the way.”