Girard chosen as newest School Committee member

Date: 12/19/2011

Dec. 19, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

LONGMEADOW — The School Committee is whole once again.

After seeing their third member in six months formally resign in November, the School Committee is now back up to full strength after welcoming Kathryn Girard to the committee on Dec. 12.

Girard beat out Gerard Kiernan for the open seat after the two were interviewed by the School Committee and the Select Board on Dec. 5. The two governing bodies convened a week later, in accordance with state law, for a vote on whom to appoint to the committee.

The seat in question was vacated by Armand Wray, who cited new professional responsibilities as his reason for leaving. Girard will serve out the remainder of Wray’s term, which ends in June 2012, at which time residents will vote for a representative to serve a three-year term on the committee.

Girard told Reminder Publications she was excited to have the opportunity to work for the betterment of the Longmeadow Public Schools.

“One of the reasons I decided to stay home with my children was so I could become more involved in the community,” she said. “The School Committee is a good way for me to do that by using my experience as a teacher.”

Girard was a teacher at the Grammar School at Somersville in Connecticut, now Somers Academy, before moving with her family to Longmeadow. She has two children, ages 8 and 6, who attend Center Elementary School.

“I think I can shed light on the challenges that teachers face day in and day out — how frustrating it can be wanting to give more than you have resources for — and how rewarding it can be,” she said. “I don’t know any teacher who is not passionate about what they do and I will bring that passion to the School Committee.

Girard said that dealing with budget issues is one area in which she has to gain more experience.

“It was a real eye-opening experience to sit there at the first meeting looking over budgeting information,” she said. “I know how it works from an arm’s length away, but actually being involved, I know I have a lot to learn, so I’m reading everything I can get my hands on to be better prepared.”

Girard’s appointment is the third the Select Board and School Committee had to make this year. James Desrochers and Owen Humphries were voted to the School Committee on Oct. 3, filling the seats vacated by Thomas Brunette and Gwendolyn Bruns. Brunette left for personal and professional reasons while Bruns moved with her family to Vermont.

It also marks the third time Kiernan has come up short in his bid for a School Committee appointment this year. Prior to interviewing for Wray’s seat, he also was considered for both Brunette’s and Bruns’ vacant positions.