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School Committee seeks new member in wake of resignation

Date: 7/11/2011

July 11, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

LONGMEADOW — The School Committee is looking for a new member in the wake of Thomas Brunette’s recent resignation from the board.

According to Jennifer Jester, chair of the School Committee, Brunette filed his resignation at the committee’s June 27 meeting.

“Tom cited new work responsibilities and he has a new baby boy, so he has a lot on his plate right now,” Jester said.

Jester explained that Brunette, a teacher in the Springfield Public School system, will be adding a new Advanced Placement physics class to his workload this coming year.

Replacing Brunette does come with a certain level of complexity. In order to fill the vacancy, the School Committee and the Select Board hope to appoint someone to his seat. However, Jester explained, Brunette had completed one year of the three-year term he was elected to and an appointment to a board or committee cannot last longer than one year.

Therefore, the School Committee and the Select Board will make a one-year appointment, then after that year is completed, a vote will take place at the 2012 Annual Town Election to determine who will finish out the final year of Brunette’s term.

Once that one-year term is completed, a vote in the 2013 Annual Town Election will determine who will sit on the board for a three-year term.

Applications will be accepted through July 14 and applicants will be interviewed at a July 18 meeting. Jester said she hopes that a decision will be rendered shortly thereafter.

“Our bylaws require us not to vote on an appointment until one week after the interviews are conducted,” Jester said. “This time of year, it can be difficult to schedule meetings that work with everyone’s schedules, but we will probably have a decision by the first part of August.”

Those interested in vying for the position must do so by submitting an application to the Select Board office at 20 Williams St. by 4 p.m. on July 14. Application papers can be found at the Select Board office or by clicking on the “Application for Appointment to Board/Committee/Commission” link on the Select Board’s section of www.longmeadow.org.



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