East Granby Town Officials Thank Former Board Members

East Granby town officials thanked former Board of Education members Jeff Clark and Mark Porter at a gathering before the school board’s regular meeting at the Monday evening.

Clark, , including the last two as chairman, decided to step down due to work obligations. Porter, who was on the board for two years, was elected to the Board of Finance in November.

Clark said in an interview that he is leaving the school board “in a very good place,” though he tried to downplay his role as just one of nine members.

“It’s not me as a member of the school board, it’s the collection of people including the school board, members of the community and the staff,” Clark said.

Among the achievements that Clark has seen as a member of the school board include the improvements that the high school made as a result of its NEASC re-accreditation process. Clark became a school board member just after the high school went through the process 11 years ago, leaving the school with a fairly lengthy list of needed improvements. Ten years later, Clark said that the list was significantly shorter.

In addition, Clark said that he was pleased to help oversee the renovation and expansion project at R.D. Seymour School, the creation of the Family Resource Center and the district-wide improvements in test scores.

“We’ve been the district that other districts have asked, ‘How do you do it?’” Clark said.

Clark said that the decision to leave was not an easy one to make.

“You put so much effort — 10 years — into something, it can be hard to let go,” he said. “But there’s a good group of people on the board. … It was a labor of love. I think it’s in very good hands.”

People in town expressed their thanks, as well as sadness, to see Clark depart.

“I will certainly miss him, and those who worked with him will miss him as well,” said Superintendent of Schools Christine Mahoney, noting Clark’s leadership role at the state level with the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.

First Selectman James Hayden echoed Mahoney’s sentiments.

“Jeff Clark has been an excellent chairman for the Board of Education during tumultuous economic times and has done a great job for the students in the school system and the residents of East Granby,” Hayden said.

Kirby Huget, who was elected the new chairman of the school board later in the meeting, said that he was “nervous” to lose Clark’s leadership.

“I have very big shoes to fill,” Huget said afterward. “I’d like to stress that Jeff Clark led the board through tough budgetary times and set a good example that I’m going to try to follow.”

Clark was presented with, among other things, a marble plaque commemorating his time served on the board.

Porter, for his part, quipped that he would keep his remarks as brief as the time he served on the board.

“I appreciate working with everybody and for their mentoring and I look forward to working with you across the street on the board of finance,” he said.

Despite his short tenure, Porter served the essential function of “bean counter” during his two years as a member of the school board and was valued for his expertise, particularly during budget time, Huget said.

Clark’s and Porter’s places on the board were filled at the regular meeting with Democrat Joe Doering and Republican Ralph Blanchard.

For Blanchard, an actuary, it’s his second tenure on the school board; he previously served seven years before stepping down due to professional obligations.

“I’m a numbers person,” said Blanchard, who’s expertise will be put to use with Porter moving on to the finance board.

It’s Doering’s first time serving on the school board.

“I’m excited and looking forward to helping in any way I can,” he said.