The three newest members of the Southwestern Consolidated Schools board swayed the vote in Derrek Tennell’s favor Wednesday night to become the new school board president.

At the first school board meeting of 2023, the Southwestern board handled its reorganization process which brought a new voice to the front of the school system.

Tennell, a Shelbyville firefighter and Southwestern graduate who was appointed to the school board early in 2022 to fill a vacated seat, defeated Isaac Pile to become the new president.

“With all the new administrators we have in the building and all the new board members, I think I might be the guy that everyone can meet in the middle,” said Tennell after the meeting. “I want to make us a more cohesive board and take on these challenges.”

Pile’s nomination was supported in the voting process by returning school board members Travis Beck and Jerry Drake.

Tennell (photo, left) received votes from all three new board members – Dustin Simpson, Blake Newkirk and Brad Stamper (photo, right).

Pile, now in his seventh year on the school board, was then elected board vice-president while Beck was elected secretary.

With the retirement of board attorney Dennis Harrold at the end of the 2022 calendar year, Amy Matthews stepped into the role Wednesday. She is employed by Church, Church, Hittle & Antrim.

The newly-reconfigured school board voted to continue to meet at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month in the administration building on campus.

Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email. Go to shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.