Sally E. Bahner Photo
(L-R):Chris Hynes, Rob Sember, Dawn Perrotti.
After deliberating in executive session, the Board of Education (BOE) voted to appoint Dawn Perrotti to fill the vacancy left by the death of longtime member Judith Hotz in January.
In going into the executive session earlier this month, Krause said, “The board is committed to selecting a candidate that has a strong record of supporting all children and to working collaboratively with others to serve the community in the important endeavor of educating Branford’s children. We recognize each candidate brings their experience, expertise and willingness to the interview process.”
It’s the second appointment for the board, which is normally elected as part of the municipal elections. Ellen Michaels was appointed when Dr. Kate Marsland resigned in December 2017.
Last November, Perrotti, a Republican, ran for election to the Representative Town Meeting in the Third District. She lost by just two votes to incumbent Peter Black, another Republican.
Also under consideration for the appointment were Rob Sember and Chris Hynes.
Perrotti is a special education teacher at the Polson Middle School in Madison and an adjunct professor at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford. Her credentials include a master’s degree in special education from Southern Connecticut State University, a bachelor’s degree in social work from Marist College, and credits in the school administrator program at SCSU. She is also camp director at Killam’s Point Day Camp.
A Branford resident since 1988, she lives in Short Beach and was an active parent volunteer in the school system; all three of her children attended Branford schools.
More recently she was involved in the campaign to revitalize the 30-year-old Pardee Park in Short Beach, which provides summer camp park space, fields, and playgrounds. The Short Beach Association voted a matching $30,000 grant to help fund the town’s renovation of Pardee Park. Robin Comey, Doug Hanlon and Margaret Carpenter joined Perrotti in the park renovation campaign.
Once the board returned from the two-hour session, members voted in favor of appointing Perrotti; Maria Ehrhardt abstained.
Perrotti will complete Hotz’s two-year term. The seat will be open again in the November 2019 municipal election.
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