WHATELY — Town officials are looking to appoint someone to a recently vacated seat on the three-member Whately School Committee.
The position was previously held by Katie Edwards, who served in the role for five years. The length of the remaining term to be filled will be until the next annual election, tentatively scheduled for June 2021.
Edwards, who could not be reached for comment, notified the town of her resignation in an email to school and town officials on Sept. 10, according to Select Board member Joyce Palmer-Fortune, who serves as the board’s liaison to the school.
“She has been thoughtful; she has been proactive,” Palmer-Fortune said of Edwards. “She always asks the right questions about the decisions they’re making, and I hope we find someone as capable and thoughtful as she was to fill the vacancy.”
Edwards told officials in her email that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demands of her job at Amherst College will increase this school year.
“It’s a reason I can completely relate to,” said Palmer-Fortune, who works at Smith College. “She certainly was going to have additional responsibilities at work and wouldn’t have time to do justice for her job and her School Committee.”
Town Administrator Brian Domina said the town will be sad to see her go.
“She’s been great to work with,” he said. “(She’s) very detail-oriented and really cared a lot about the school.”
In addition to a post on the town website, paper copies of the vacancy announcement are posted to the front door of the Town Office as well as at the Post Office, Palmer-Fortune said.
According to the notice, interested applicants should email a letter of interest to Domina at townadmin@whately.org, and address the letter to the Whately Select Board and School Committee. The statement should include why the applicant is interested in the role, as well as any experience and skills relevant to the position.
Letters should be sent to Domina on or before Sept. 28.