UPDATED: School Committee Member Resigns, Vacancy Will Be Filled by Appointment

Editor’s Note: The article below has been updated with information received after the initial article published.

Hamilton-Wenham Regional School Committee member Roger Kuebel has announced his resignation from the committee.

Kuebel resigned at the June 3 meeting, according to Chairman Larry Schwartz. The resignation was expected, Schwartz added.

“He had publicly stated when he ran for re-election that he would serve until an agreement was reached on a new three-year contract with the teachers of the district,” Schwartz explained. “The agreement was approved by the school committee on June 3.”

The Jan. 8, 2015 minutes from a School Committee meeting minutes also make note of Kuebel’s intention.

The committee had been making plans to shrink from a nine-member to a seven-member committee, a process it intended to complete by not filling open spots and by only opening two spots for election in April 2015, according to The Salem News. William Dery’s January 2015 resignation dropped the committee to eight members and three members’ terms ended this spring. Only two new members, Hannah Fraley and Dennis Hurley, were elected in April bringing the total number of members to seven.

Kuebel’s resignation, however, leaves a hole in the seven-member board that will be filled in a joint decision by the school committee and the Wenham Board of Selectmen.

Wenham Board of Selectmen Chair Catherine Harrison told fellow board members Tuesday night that she understands the full process for appointing a replacement is still in the works, but the agreement between Hamilton and Wenham determined that, because Kuebel is a Wenham resident, Wenham selectmen will be involved in filling the vacancy.

“This is a very important position,” Selectman John Clemenzi said. “We need good, competent people doing these type of jobs. And you don’t have to be an education expert. Just good sense and good judgment.”

Schwartz said that the school committee plans to discuss the process for filling the vacancy at its June 18 meeting.

Currently a vacancy notice on the town’s website asks that interested Wenham residents submit their letters of interest and resumes to Superintendent Michael Harvey at Central Administration Office, 5 School Street, Wenham MA 01984, Attn: Dr. Michael Harvey, Superintendent, or by email to m.harvey@hwschools.net.

The deadline to submit letters, according to the notice, is July 8 at noon, but Schwartz said he expected the deadline for letters of interest would actually be July 22.

The person appointed will fill the position until the next town election in April 2016.