Although newly elected Judge Perry Nicosia officially resigned from the St. Bernard Parish School Board Feb. 25, District 10 will nonetheless be represented by a Nicosia for the remainder of his term.

In a special meeting held Feb. 23, St. Bernard Parish School Superintendent Doris Voitier and the school board appointed former member Ron Nicosia to fill Perry Nicosia’s seat.

“It’s good to be back,” Ron Nicosia said. “This feels like where I should be.”

Ron Nicosia, the father of Perry Nicosia, served on the school board for 12 years, beginning in 1995. The elder Nicosia finished his term after Hurricane Katrina but did not seek reelection because of his displacement.

Perry Nicosia, elected without opposition to the 34th Judicial District Court, Division C, judgeship earlier this month, ran for his father’s school board seat in 2006. Almost four years later, the Nicosias are experiencing somewhat of a role reversal.

“I’m proud of him, as any parent would be,” Ron Nicosia said.

Voitier said after the meeting that Ron Nicosia’s prior experience will be an asset to the school board.

“He’s got a tremendous amount of experience with the school system and will hit the ground running,” Voitier said after the unanimous vote to appoint Ron Nicosia.

Elections for the school board will take place later this year.

School board welcomes Bonnette

Ron Nicosia was not the only familiar face to return to the school board Feb. 23. After a long absence due to an automobile accident in September 2008, school board representative Herman Bonnette was present for both the board’s special and regular meetings.

“It’s so nice to be with you brothers and sisters,” Bonnette said to the fellow school board members and superintendent Doris Voitier.

Bonnette taught for 31 years and has served on the school board more than 20 years.