The Seneca Valley School Board listens as solicitor Matt Hoffman announces a lawsuit against social media companies is moving forward during a previous meeting. Zach Zimmerman/Butler Eagle

JACKSON TWP — Eric DiTullio and Jeff Widdowson were reelected as president and vice president, respectively, of the Seneca Valley School Board on Monday, Dec. 2.

The school board unanimously approved the nominations of DiTullio and Widdowson at its reorganization meeting, the last board meeting of the calendar year.

Despite an open floor for nominations, the votes to approve DiTullio and Widdowson were closed after no other members of the board were nominated.

DiTullio, a resident of Harmony, has served on the school board for Region 8, representing Forward and Lancaster townships, since 2009. DiTullio said he was proud to serve as the board president as a Seneca Valley alum, calling it “a dream come true” to serve his home district.

Widdowson, of Evans City, has served on the school board for 17 years, in multiple stints. He represents Region 9, which includes Callery, Harmony and Jackson Township. DiTullio and Widdowson’s current terms both end in 2025.

DiTullio said he views the quick renominations of him and Widdowson to the posts as a sense of confidence in their leadership and ability to work with the board’s members on different issues.

“I believe so, yes. And it’s something that we’ve had for many years. This board has always been a board of consensus, and agreement,” DiTullio said. “We’ve always worked well together. It has not been contentious for at least a decade plus, and it’s one of those things that we have differing opinions, but we come together and we get the job done, and we do what’s best for our school district.”

Heading into the new year, a number of topics are on the school board’s plate.

The district has to hire a new football coach to replace Ron Butschle. Meanwhile, the district is participating in an ongoing federal lawsuit along with districts across the country against social media companies. It is also prepping for the demolition of former Evans City Elementary/Middle School.

DiTullio said his focus on the upcoming year remains on long-term planning.

“Our focus is always long-term financial planning, long-term kid planning, for what we want to do, and making sure that we’re doing what’s best for the district and the taxpayer on a long-term basis,” DiTullio said. “It’s not going to be a year-by-year basis, but it’s always going to be a long-term approach. And people might not see it in one or two years, but I guarantee you they will see what we’ve been doing for 10, 15, 20 years.”

Eric DiTullio was renominated to serve as president of the Seneca Valley School Board. He has served on the board since 2009.

Jeff Widdowson was renominated to serve as vice president of the Seneca Valley School Board at its reorganization meeting Dec. 2.