NORWICH – Despite the current “even” number of members, the Norwich City School board managed to pass all but one motion at its August meeting – the notable exception being how to fill the board’s vacant seventh seat.
The slot remains vacant despite the presence of several individuals willing to take on the position, public entreaties, a petition, a motion by a standing board member and a letter from DCMO BOCES Superintendent Alan Pole. The position opened in June with the resignation of longtime board member William Winans.
“I encourage any appointment of a seventh board member to be decided by a fair and democratic public election,” said Norwich High School staff member Lorry Chwazik during the period of public comment at the board of education meeting Tuesday.
Following Chwazik’s statement, several individuals indicated their willingness to take on the role, including Norwich resident Perry Owen and former school board member Clyde Birch.
Owen, who served on the board of governors at Bedford Grammar School in England, said he was approached by several parties after a previous meeting and asked to consider being on the board. “Even members result in total stagnation,” said Owen.
Birch expressed his continued interest in serving again on the Norwich City School Board of Education. “I am honest and forthright,” said Birch. “Sometimes too honest and too forthright for some.”
During written communication, a petition signed by more than 150 district residents was entered into the record. The petition, which appeared as a letter to the editor in The Evening Sun, appealed to the logic of the board.
The document stated “... an odd number of voting members would go a long way to assure that a situation is not created where an artificial NO is the decision because of a 3-3 split. Logic dictates that a decison-making body should have a built-in swing vote.”
Signers of the petition indicated they were not in favor of holding another election to fill the position due to the additional expense involved. “Perhaps the school board could revisit the issue of appointing one of the experienced individuals who has already expressed willingness and interest in serving.”
Board member Kathy Coates expressed her belief that if the board acknowledged the legitimacy of the previous election, they should appoint the “next in line of succession” from that vote. “I don’t see why we have a problem honoring that,” said Coates. “I would like to believe we can come together as a board.”
Coates went on to make a motion to appoint Clyde Birch, a former board member who lost his seat in the last election, to the vacant spot, which was seconded by Joe Stagliano. During discussion prior to the vote, board vice-president Tim Brown restated his belief that a special election should be held to fill the vacancy.
The motion was defeated 3-3 with Coates, Stagliano and Bob Patterson for seating Birch; Brown, Sally Chirlin and Priscilla Johnson against.
Despite the failure of the board to reach a decision about the seventh seat, there remains hope that the position will be filled sooner rather than later. In response to the letter from Alan Pole, the board of education will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the district board room to answer the DCMO BOCES superintendent’s concerns about the vacancy.
While the meeting will be open to the public, Patterson stressed that there would be no public comment. “The only item on the agenda will be to discuss the vacant board seat,” said Patterson.