FARMINGTON – The Board of Selectmen unanimously appointed an interim school board director at Tuesday’s board meeting.
Director Heather Ahren-Huish recently resigned from the Regional School Unit 9 board, with roughly eight months left on the first year of her term. The board put out a public notice advertising the open position and three Farmington residents responded: Ryan Morgan, Dennis O’Neil and Kirk Doyle.
A former selectman and local business owner, Morgan was originally appointed to the school board in 2016 to replace another resigning director. He ran for reelection unopposed in 2017 and later resigned in January 2018. Ahren-Huish was appointed interim director to fill Morgan’s seat until July 1, 2018, while also running unopposed in March for a three-year term.
Selectman Stephan Bunker moved to appoint Morgan. A former school board director, Bunker said that he felt Morgan’s previous experience would be helpful to “hit the ground running” as an interim director.
“We’re blessed to have this level of interest,” Bunker said, encouraging O’Neil and Doyle to run for the seat in March 2019. Agreeing that all three candidates were qualified, the board voted unanimously to appoint Morgan.
Morgan will serve on an interim basis until July 1, 2019. At the March town meeting next year, a school board director will be elected for a two-year term to fill that seat.
The board also set the date of the 2019 town meeting. Per usual, it will be held on the last Monday of March, March 25. In addition to the interim school board seat, elections will be held to fill Board of Selectmen seats, currently occupied by Selectman Michael Fogg and Board Chair Josh Bell.
Correction, Nancy Porter had run against Huish if memory serves.
Please folks fulfill your requirements you signed up for or don’t bother wasting people’s time.
Why did director Heather Ahren-Huish resign? Why did Ryan Morgan resign in 2018? Perhaps full disclosure would help us to understand.
Congratulations Ryan on being appointed to the board.
Nancy Porter ran in the same election as Ahren-Huish, but for a different seat.
Both Huish and Morgan resigned for health reasons, and both were always dedicated board members who recognized that they couldn’t do what was required because of health concerns.
I am really happy that Ryan Morgan – who always contributed solid insights and ideas for the board – is coming back. I’m especially glad that this suggests he is healthy and doing well. I’ll miss Heather on the board – she’s an amazing person – but Ryan will make positive contributions. Congrats!
Dear Wally (and anyone else curious about why I stepped down) ~ I served as long as my fickle health would allow me to; originally, I had put my name in to be part of the school board because I was in hopes that the energy limitations that my medical condition puts on me were changing.
I was wrong.
When I began to miss meetings and not be able to fulfill my committee responsibilities, I knew that it was time to be done with the school board.
I believe that public service is both a duty and a privilege, and I didn’t want my particular medical circumstances to stand in the way of another person serving our community in this fashion.
Lastly, thank you for your kind words, Scott.
Respectfully submitted,
Heather Ahern Huish
Dear Heather,
Thank you for all your hard work, dedication, and commitment to betterment of our community through your service on the school board. You have made positive changes in the lives of others, especially students, and my sincerest wishes for improved health.
With deep respect and gratitude,
Tiffany Maiuri
Fred
100% service connected veteran. Gulf War Syndrome.
I’m not so sure that “sharing” any part of a third party’s/person’s medical history is a “good” idea