76°
Rosa Murray is back on the Norwalk Board of Education. Murray, a District A Democrat, was selected unanimously Wednesday evening by the Norwalk Democratic Town Committee to replace departing school board member Susan Hamilton.
"I am very excited to serve the Norwalk community as an experienced and now returning board member," said Murray, a former chair of the Board of Education. "I look forward to establishing relationships with board members and create a culture of working together to respond to the needs of the district."
Murray had served four consecutive four-year terms that's 16 years before losing her seat in the 2009 election. In that election, three incumbent Democrats were defeated, shifting the balance of power on the board 5-4 in favor of Republicans. Murray says that she has been attending meetings regularly over the last year and a half "to be knowledgeable about the work at hand."
Murray steps in during the final days of an arduous budget reconciliation. "I've been there before with a tight budget. I plan to work in a bipartisan collaborative way with my fellow board members."
"Rosas previous service to the BOE means that there is no need for on the job training," says Democratic Town Chair Marc Bradley. "I look forward to having such a strong Democratic voice back on the board.
"Rosa has a sense of history with the community," says Jodi-Bishop Pullan, senior Board of Education member. "She also knows the process. That experience is useful since there is a lot of new staff and we are short-staffed." Norwalk's Superintendent Susan Marks and Chief Operating Officer Craig Drezek have been at their jobs less than a year.
Murray has two daughters who have graduated from Norwalk High Schools. She is a past president of Parents for Norwalk High. Currently, she is the guardian and active grandmother of two children who attend Norwalk schools.
Hamilton is leaving her school board position after 7 1/2 years because she is moving to Westport. Last month, Republican Artie Kassimis replaced Erin Halsey, who also left the school board to take a job as city clerk.
What do you think of the appointment of Rosa Murray?
Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.
