On February 25th the Sudbury Select Board met virtually to discuss many current issues including the vacant position on the Sudbury School Committee due to a recent resignation. 

Mary Stephens, a former Sudbury School Committee member, resigned leaving an open seat on the committee. The Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) delegate the authority of appointing a new committee member to the Sudbury Select Board per Chapter 41, Section 11. During their meeting, the Select Board debated whether or not to use this power immediately or to wait for the result of the town election to appoint a new member to the Sudbury School Committee. 

The current candidate for the position, Allison Vanderels, is running uncontested in the election on March 31st. The Select Board debated whether they should appoint her prior to the election to fill the empty seat, or delay the decision until after March 31st. 

Sudbury Select Board member Charlie Russo argued that “a fifth member adds additional perspectives” and “different perspectives generally lead to better decisions.” He also expressed his concern that the School Committee currently has four members, meaning debates could end in ties. 

Dan Carty, another member of the Sudbury Select Board, opposed the idea of appointing a new member before the election due to the possibility of other candidates applying for the position. He also believed it was important for the public to know that the current uncontested candidate, Allison Vanderels, is Charlie Russo’s neighbor to avoid possible friction within the community. 

The Select Board believes that in order to represent the whole town, all five seats on the Sudbury School Committee must be full. After debate, the Select Board came to the 4:1 decision post an official Appointment Application open for the next 7 days (closing on March 5th at 12PM). The chosen candidate would serve for the weeks prior to the election on March 31st. This gives other potential candidates the opportunity to be selected for a temporary position on the committee.