A good opportunity to get involved with school issues

Rockport school board member resigns, seat opens up

Thu, 09/21/2017 - 3:15pm

    ROCKPORT — Effective as soon as a new representative can be appointed, Betsy Saltonstall will step down from her two elected seats representing Rockport on the School Administrative District 28 (Camden-Rockport K-8) board, as well as the Five Town CSD board, which oversees Camden Hills Regional High School.

    She cited a busy work schedule as reason to resign. 

    “I love what I’m doing, but I can’t do all of it,” she said.

    Saltonstall works in Portland and sits on nonprofit boards, including United Midcoast Charities, where she is now vice president.

    Saltonstall has served on the Five Town and SAD 28 school boards, and the finance subcommittee, since August 2, 2016, when she was elected to the boards following a special election. That August election was the result of a peculiar turn of events: During the traditional June Town Meeting elections, 16 write-in candidates each received the same number of votes, forcing a run-off election in August.

    Saltonstall won that election with 45 votes, and began to serve her term through June 2019. She had served on the same school boards for a previous term, from 2009 to 2011.

    Rockport Town Clerk Linda Greenlaw said that she and Town Manager Rick Bates have been researching state law, the Five Town CSD rules, and the town’s charter to determine whether another election was necessary to complete Saltonstall’s term until June 2019.

    At this point, it is likely that the Select Board will be responsible for appointing a willing individual to replace Saltonstall until June 2019; however, the Select Board will be discussing the matter when its members convene Sept. 25 for a regularly scheduled meeting.

    Any Rockport candidates who might want to serve on the school boards through June 2019 are invited to contact Greenlaw at the town office, 207-236-0806.

    Saltonstall said she would continue on the boards until her replacement is nominated.


     

    Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657