After serving more than two decades on the Maplewood Richmond Heights School Board, Nelson Mitten on Monday attended his last meeting on the board as a member. MRH reported about it on Facebook.
Nelson Mitten Signs Off After 21 Years on MRH School Board
For more than two decades, one of the seven chairs at Maplewood Richmond Heights School Board meetings has been occupied by the white-bearded attorney and public education advocate Nelson Mitten. That era has ended.
Tuesday night, Mitten participated in his last board meeting, with his final official open-session action being to call the board into executive session. All business, right ’til the end.
Mitten, who has recovered from a serious health scare last year, decided the time was right to curtail what he calls his “extracurriculars.”
Mitten was first elected to the MRH board in 1998, at a time when district finances were in a shambles and administration in a state of turmoil. Among his first initiatives was the hiring of a new superintendent and assistant superintendent, and the purging of several district staffers who presided during that period of serious financial missteps. He was elected president of the MRH board after just one year, and served in that capacity twice during his tenure. He also served as board treasurer and chairman of the policy committee.
Mitten is an attorney with Riezman Berger, P.C. of Clayton. He is married to State Representative Gina Mitten, D-Richmond Heights, whom he credits for fostering his public education advocacy.
Among his proudest accomplishments while in office: the passage of Propositions K and Y in 2015 and 2016, and the expansion of pre-K education.
What’s next for Nelson Mitten?
“I’ve always wanted to learn to play guitar. I’ve got one at home, just sitting there,” he says.
Residents will vote on April 2 on three candidates for two seats on the school board. Current board member, Brandi Herndon-Miller is running to retain her position; Nikylan Knapper and Dale Chambers are running too.
See also: Nikylan Knapper, running for MRH School Board, Statement for MRH board candidate, Dale Chambers, Maplewood candidates speak in living room gathering
