Plainfield School Board Appoints New Member

The Plainfield District 202 board of education on Monday appointed a new member to serve the remaining two years of William Dargan Jr.’s term.

Members appointed 23-year Plainfield resident and District 202 parent Dave Koch to step in for Dargan, who resigned in December to take a job out of state.

Board members chose Koch from among 39 community members who expressed an interest in the position, the district said.

Koch, 54, and his family moved to Plainfield in 1992. He is married and is the father of four: Madeline, who graduated from Plainfield North High School; Emma, a Plainfield East High School graduate; and twins Dylan and Camille, who are juniors at PEHS.

Koch has also coached youth soccer, football and baseball, the district said.

He has been a stay-at-home dad for 18 years after working in the warehouse and logistics industry. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from University of Rhode Island and extensive management and operational experience with Leica Biosystems and Wilton Industries. In the last 18 years Koch has also worked as a substitute and teacher’s aide in District 202.

“Through my experience I believe I have a good understanding of the school district from both a parent and teacher’s perspective,” Koch said, acknowledging that he joins the board during a challenging time for public education.

“As a parent and volunteer I know that education funding is a big concern,” he said. “I look forward to working with a dedicated group of people trying to come up with answers, and I hope to be a valuable part of that work.”

After the term expires in 2017, Koch will have the option of seeking a full, four-year term.