Health Concerns Prompt Resignation of Enfield School Board Member

ENFIELD, CT — Longtime Board of Education member Tim Neville, who was recently elected to a fifth term, has resigned from the board for health reasons, he stated at a meeting Tuesday night.

Neville, 71, said he suffered "a minor stroke" three weeks ago, and has decided "to step back from politics for now." He said his resignation, submitted to Superintendent of Schools Chris Drezek and school board chairman Walter Kruzel, will take effect at the end of Wednesday.

He spent 38 years as an educator in the Enfield school system, including a 19-year stint as principal at John F. Kennedy Middle School from 1992 through his retirement in 2011. In Nov. 2011, he ran for election to the school board and was the top vote-getter among all candidates; the Democratic party won the majority that year, and Neville was elected chairman.

"Running for office was, in my mind, a chance to give back to a town that I love," he said in an emotional 5-minute speech Tuesday.

Though the Republicans regained the majority in 2013, Neville was still the leading vote-getter, a distinction he also received in 2015 and 2017.

He praised a number of colleagues he has worked with over the years, particularly Drezek and assistant superintendent Andy Longey.

"Enfield is indeed privileged to have a quality leadership team, and my only regret is I can't continue to be a part of it," he said.

Neville's remarks begin around the 27:30 mark in the video below.

(E-TV via YouTube)