Joseph Calimeri

Joseph M. Calimeri has been appointed as a new Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education member.

The board approved Calimeri’s appointment Tuesday to fill the vacancy left by the recent resignation of Patrick Slagle.

Calimeri is a 2003 graduate of Jamestown High School, and will serve until the May 21 annual budget vote and school board election. In that election, the two candidates who receive the highest vote totals each will be elected to a three-year term to begin on July 1 and expire on June 30, 2027. The candidate receiving the third highest vote total will be elected to a one-year term to begin on May 22 and expire on June 30, 2025.

“I thought it was in the best interest of the district to appoint someone, so I have nominated Mr. Calimeri for that position,” Board President Paul Abbott said.

“With the resignation of Mr. Slagle coming so close to the time where we are discussing and approving a budget for the 2024-2025 school year, as well as the upcoming election, we were looking for someone who was not only interested in running for a spot on the board in May, but also someone who could hit the ground running,” Abbott continued. “Mr. Slagle and I had discussed Mr. Calimeri’s interest in the board prior to Patrick’s resignation. In his capacity as an attorney Mr. Calimeri has worked with other elected bodies and has a deep understanding of open meetings laws and the budget process.

It was my opinion that, given such a short period of time before the election, Mr. Calimeri’s appointment made the most sense to ensure the efficient running of the board and the district. He has enthusiastically shared with me his intention to run for the board in May. Therefore tonight I recommended to the board Mr Calimeri be appointed to finish the term from tonight’s meeting until the end of the school year on June 30.”

Calimeri has served as partner at Wright Calimeri, PLLC since 2017. He previously served as an associate attorney at the law office of Wright, Wright & Hampton from 2011 to 2016 and is a member of the Jamestown Bar Association. He graduated cum laude from SUNY Geneseo in 2007 with a degree in political science and graduated from Ohio North University College of Law, with distinction, in 2010, where served as symposium editor of the college’s law review.

“JPS provides endless opportunities for its students and has first-class faculty and staff,” Calimeri said. “I am a proud graduate of Jamestown High School and have two children currently enrolled in JPS. I look forward to working with the board to help ensure that all students are provided with opportunity and resources to receive a high-quality education and become proud members of our community.

Calimeri resides in the city with his wife Leslie and children, Sam, a sophomore at JHS, and George, a UPK student at Lincoln Elementary School. He also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Italian American Golf Association.

The board also elected longtime schoolboard member Joseph Pawelski to serve as the board’s new vice president. Before his resignation, Slagle had served as the board’s vice president.

In other business:

The board recognized several student athletes including JHS swimmer Conner Dean, JHS bowler Abbie Derby, JHS wrestler Tyler Zwald, JHS wrestler Zach Little, JHS indoor track and field sprinter Jarren Cotter, JHS cross country runner Stephen Hallberg, JHS cross country runner London Hamilton, and members of the JHS boys basketball team.

The board announced that petitions for the JPS board election and budget vote on May 21 are available beginning today from District Clerk Rhonda Frank in the superintendent’s office. Candidates must submit a completed petition containing the names of 100 or more qualified voters within the school district to be eligible for the May 21 ballot. Petitions are due back to the superintendent’s office, 197 Martin Road,, by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1. For more information contact Frank at (716) 483-4420.