The Board of Education on Monday night re-elected its current chair and vice chair to another year in those offices, and was unable to decide immediately who would serve as the group’s secretary.
Board of Ed Chair Hazel Hobbs was re-elected to the role on Nov. 3, 2014. Credit: Michael Dinan
The group now has 30 days to decide who will fill the role, and can take up the matter at its next meeting (Nov. 17), Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi said.
During the meeting, held in the Wagner Room at New Canaan High School, Chair Hazel Hobbs and Vice Chair Scott Gress were re-elected 8-0 to those roles, with one abstention in each case (Alison Bedula).
Both Sheri West and current Board of Ed Secretary Dionna Carlson were put forward for the role of secretary, and each garnered four votes.
The New Canaan Board of Ed is made up of six Republicans and three Democrats. Board member Jennifer Richardson abstained from voting for either candidate for secretary.
Here’s some of what was said for those nominated:
- Gress on Hobbs: “Hazel’s outstanding qualifications as an educator and her commitment to the Board of Education are more than enough to recommend her for another year of service.”
- Hobbs on Gress: “Scott has given many behind-the-scene hours for the leadership team. His caring for an outstanding education for New Canaan students knows no boundaries.”
- Penny Rashin on West: “Sheri has brought us her enthusiasm, intellect and energy for the last year-and-a-half on the board. She has an incredibly strong business background, having worked in communications and finance.”
- Hobbs on Carlson: “She has strong leadership skills, she has been a real asset to the leadership team, she quickly understands complex issues and works to bring people together to solve them, and her intelligence, experience, integrity and caring about students cause her to stand out in all she does.”