Donovan Resigns from Concord School Board

When candidates begin to come forward to run for Concord School Board seats later this week, there will be one more open seat to choose from.

Melissa Donovan, a board member representing District A (Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4), has issued her resignation notice to the school board, effective for sometime later this year.

Donovan and her family have purchased a home in Pembroke and are in the process of moving out of the city.

“As much as I love the West End and wanted to stay there, we wanted more land, more space,” she said.

The search for more space led to other areas of the capital region and, ultimately, Pembroke.

Donovan said she was announcing her resignation now in order to open up the opportunity for more candidates to come forward during the signup period which begins on Sept. 5.

“I want the people of District A to elect somebody,” she said. “It was really important to me that someone be elected, to get the word out now and make sure everyone knows. I don’t want the board to appoint someone.”

Donovan added that she wasn’t happy with the appointment process that occurred when Nick Metalious resigned in March of this year. She stated that the process should have been open and more candidates should have been invited to be considered, especially those that live in the underserved section of the community that Metalious represented, the Heights and East Concord. Donovan added that she understood that there was a standing process of the president of the board choosing a replacement, and she thinks that replacement, Patrick Taylor, who also ran in 2012, was perfectly fine, even though she voted against his appointment.

The board is considering tightening up the appointment policy in the future especially now that two-thirds of the Concord School Board members are elected by districts and not citywide.

Even though she would have only served about 10 months when she leaves, Donovan stated that she enjoyed the time serving and learned a lot, especially since, as a teacher, she comes from another perspective than the role of a school board member.

“I’m just starting to sort out and figure out the lay of the land, the vision, what each committee does,” she said. “At the same time, it was right the decision for my family.”

Donovan added, “It’s definitely a worthy use of someone’s time.”

Candidates for school board can signup to run beginning on Sept. 5. The filing period runs through Sept. 15.

An information session for residents interested in running for school board will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8, in the central office at the former Dewey Elementary School on 38 Liberty St., in the rear entrance near the parking lot.