With two of nine seats open due to recent resignations, Branford's Board of Education (BOE) met at a special meeting Sept. 29 to rescind chair and vice chair elections held without proper agenda notification on Sept. 16 and to elect a BOE chair and officers.
On Sept. 29, the BOE elected John Prins chair by a vote of 4-3 and Ellen Michaels vice chair (5-2). Board member Meredith Gaffney was nominated on Sept. 29 for both chair and vice chair positions and retained her office as Secretary. The meeting was livestreamed at www.branfordschools.org with public input allowed by phone; a video of the meeting can be viewed at www.branfordschools.org
On Sept. 29, BOE members Joanne Borrus, Ellen Michaels, Chad Edgar and Prins voted in favor of electing Prins chairman, with BOE members Cantu, Perrotti and Gaffney voting against. The vote for Michaels as vice chair was affirmed by votes of Prins, Borrus, Edgar, Perrotti and Michaels; with Cantu and Gaffney voting against.
The BOE called the Sept. 29 special meeting following a Sept. 16 full BOE meeting during which a 3-2-1 quorum vote elected Prins chairman and unanimous voice vote elected Gaffney vice chair. Voting in favor of electing Prins chair on Sept. 16 were Borrus, Michaels and Prins; with Cantu and Gaffney against, and Edgar abstaining. Perrotti was absent on Sept. 16 (see related story). The meeting was livestreamed www.branfordschools.org with public input allowed by phone; the video of the meeting can be viewed at www.branfordschools.org
At the Sept. 29 special meeting, ahead of the BOE vote to elect a new chair, Prins and Gaffney spoke with the board about their priorities for the position. Prins cited his over 20 years of experience on the BOE together with his affiliation as a Master Board of Education Member in the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE).
When it comes to dealing with board functions from key policy issues to budgeting, "...this is really a time for experience in the process," said Prins.
Prins said that, with some "green" members on the BOE, he would work to develop the board and to help the board to function at a high level that will best serve the district and community.
Prins said he would implement ways to create broader board knowledge through programs such as diversity training and workshops.
"It's really important for the board to be able to set an example for the community and model what the district is all about," said Prins, adding he felt that has been "lost" over the past months, largely due to COVID-19.
"We haven't been able to demonstrate what a high-functioning board does," said Prins.
Regarding parents calls for better communication coming from the district office, Prins said there is "...no question we need to improve communications. I have started that process already and you will see it start to bear fruit."
Regarding parents who have been asking the BOE for more attention in evaluating the superintendent's implementation of matters addressed by the BOE, Prins said one of the key things about a BOE is that it's about a "partnership."
"While we can insist something must happen, it also must go through process of superintendent and administration," said Prins, later adding, "... I think all of us are impatient [but] sometimes we need to be held back, because the administration knows what's on their plates. But we also have to push, so that's my role."
Gaffney said if she were elected chair, her priorities would include working with the superintendent and incorporating "that evaluation piece" to ensure the best education for schools and children; working on board policy and budget oversight with a focus on communication, and expanding diversity, equity and inclusion work within Branford Public Schools and within the community.
Following the votes for chairman and vice chair, Gaffney said she felt the board could "...step forward with unity."
"Thank you to our administrators and our teachers who really stepped forward during this pandemic," said Gaffney. "Although we are sitting here and we are having these discussions, we are all together as a board, and I support everyone on this board."
As previously reported, due to the need to focus on her role as an elementary school teacher in another district, former BOE chair Shannen Sharkey notified board members of her resignation in a letter sent Sept. 2. Also tendering her resignation on Sept. 2 was BOE member Maria Erdhart.
On Sept. 29. Prins said BOE would soon receive a schedule to begin interviewing seven candidates interested in filling the vacant terms.
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Branford Education Board Special Meeting Rescinds Earlier Votes; Elects Chair, Vice Chair - Zip06.com
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