Honors For Exeter Area School Official

Exeter school district officials last night honored Patty Lovejoy, the outgoing chairwoman of the Exeter Region Co-op School Board.

"It's been a pleasure serving with all of you," said Lovejoy, who has served 12 years as a board member in the district. Her current term expires next month; she's not seeking re-election.

Lovejoy, of Stratham, will continue to serve as a Democratic state representative in the Legislature.

She presided over her last co-op board meeting last night.

"Patty's leadership has helped us," said Superintendent Michael Morgan.

Board member Liz Faria added Lovejoy has been a "gracious" leader.

Lovejoy said she was proud to work with fellow board members on the following projects during her tenure:

• Constructing the new high school. Through refinancing, the school district recently saved $800,000 on a 20-year bond to pay for it.
• Reusing the old high school on Linden Street as a learning campus for adult education, technical programs, and other initiatives.
• Establishing the Great Bay eLearning Charter School and the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School. Exeter is the only school district in the state with two charter schools.

"It's amazing how fast 12 years goes by," said Lovejoy, who served three years on the Stratham School Board and another nine on the co-op board.

Last night's meeting was also the last for fellow co-op board member Mike Grant, of Newfields.

Their replacements will be determined in the March 13 election.