Sally E. Bahner Photo
Ellen Michaels, a former Board of Education member, was sworn in by Town Clerk Lisa Arpin last week (pictured) to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Dr. Kate Marsland.
The board also elected officers for the next year and appointed members to various committees.
Michaels, a Democrat, was appointed to a previous vacancy (left by David Squires) and served from 2014 to 2015. She is a retired educator and was a special education director in the Stratford school district; she also worked in speech pathology. She has lived in Branford since 2002.
Sally E. Bahner Photo
Board of Education
Michael Krause was re-elected as chair, John O’Connor as vice-chair, and Betsy Regan as secretary.
Committee appointments were as follows:
Communications – Joanne Borrus (chair), Betsy Regan, Ellen Michaels, and John Prins.
Personnel and Finance – Judy Hotz (chair), Joanne Borrus, John O’Connor, and Maria Ehrhardt.
Technology and Learning – John Prins (chair), Betsy Regan, Maria Ehrhardt, and Shannen Sharkey.
Policy – John O’Connor (chair), Betsy Regan, John Prins, and Ellen Michaels.
Maria Ehrhardt and Shannen Sharkey were appointed as liaisons to the Sliney School PTA, while Judy Hotz and Betsy Regan were appointed to Tisko PTA, John Prins and Ellen Michaels to Murphy. Michael Krause, Betsy Regan, and Joanne Borrus will work with the Walsh PTA, while John O’Connor and Shannen Sharkey will work with Branford High School’s.
Representatives to other educational organizations include: Judy Hotz and Ellen Michaels, ACES (Area Cooperative Education Services); Ellen Michaels, BECC (Branford Early Childhood Collaborative); and John Prins, CABE (Connecticut Association of Boards of Education).
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