Veteran School Board Member Resigns

By Larissa Lytwyn

Former school board member Margaret Hull wants to make clear that her decision to resign was due to family obligations, not just spending more “time” with her family.

“My son, Tyler, will be going to college next year and I’d like to go back to work to help finance his education,” Ms Hull said.

In addition, Ms Hull and her husband, Josh, have Seth, a freshman at Newtown High School, Annie, an eighth grader at Newtown Middle School, and Jonathan, a fourth grader at Middle Gate Elementary School.

Originally, Ms Hull said she had planned to retire at the end of the 2002–03 school year. Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff, she said, as well as other school board members, knew of her intent to do so “for the past year.”

The impact of budgetary concerns and later transportation problems, however, delayed her planned departure further than anticipated.

She described her years on the school board as “gratifying” ones. “I took my responsibility as a Board of Education member seriously,” she said. “I was entrusted with both the welfare of Newtown’s children and the taxpayers’ dollars.”

Trained in education and computer technology with a bachelor of arts in chemistry, Ms Hull has been in marketing and sales of chemical instrumentation at IBM Instruments and staff scientist in lithium battery research at EIC Corporation.

She has also served as a substitute teacher and is considering teaching chemistry or, preferably, mathematics part-time.

Prior to her tenure on the Board of Education, Ms Hull chaired the site-based management council at Middle Gate between 1994 and 1997. From 1991 to 1993, Ms Hull was the chairman of the Trinity Day School board of directors, as well as involved in districtwide search committees for teachers and administrators.

“It was excellent, being involved in all those things,” said Ms Hull. In 1997, a standing school board member approached her. “They wanted me to take their place after their term was up,” she said.

Upon joining the school board, she said her intention “was to avoid any temptation to micromanage something as complex as a school system.” Instead, she planned to focus on, among other things, union negotiations, textbook approvals, curriculum, and budgeting matters.

“I came to realize, however, that while micromanagement is not a good idea,” she continued, “it is nevertheless important to weigh in with your concerns and opinions even when — in fact, especially when — you find your peers may not share your opinion, concerns, or reservations on a particular issue.”

One such issue was her longstanding interests in exploring later start times for middle and high school students in response to growing medical research about adolescent sleep patterns.

She said that the influence of both her constituents and colleagues made her school board position an “energizing” one. “If it weren’t for an increase in family obligations, I would enjoy continuing for two more years,” she said.

Ms Hull’s last meeting was a special session held October 1 to approve the School Start Times Committee. She says she plans to continue to be an active part of the school community, perhaps even serving as one of the system’s employee someday. She also does not rule out returning to public office in the years to come.

For the moment, however, “I’m focusing on my family,” she said. “They will always be my priority.”

School board chairman Elaine McClure explained at the October 7 Board of Education meeting that the Democratic Town Committee must fill Ms Hull’s vacant seat of the board by appointing an interim member until the November 4 election.

Vice Chairman Vince Saviano will be completing his term this year and will be replaced by Democrat David Nanavaty. Incumbent Andrew Buzzi and newcomers George Caracciolo and Paul Mangiafico will vie for the two remaining seats allocated to Republicans under the terms of the town’s charter.

“Then, we will be back to five members until the new board appoints a replacement [for Hull] on December 5,” said Ms McClure. The board meets December 1, giving only four days of deliberation until the vote takes place.

The board is also seeking a new secretary.

Prospective candidates for the board are encouraged to contact Earl Smith, chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, at 426-6360.