Oxford introduces “New Look” School Committee

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

Oxford – The Oxford School Committee unveiled its three new elected members this past Monday night and immediately proceeded to elect a new chairperson.

New chairperson Daniel Coonan

Former Oxford Selectman Daniel Coonan was introduced as a new committee member and soon thereafter was voted in by a 3-2 margin to replace Brenda Ennis as the committee’s new chairperson.

The committee also introduced the other two new members, former Oxford Selectman Alice Walker, and Sarah Gaucher.

“It’s very exciting to be a member of this new school board. I think you will see a very diverse population on it,” said Coonan. “It will work for a good year and we should get along and look out for the best interest for the town of Oxford.”

Alice Walker

Walker, who was the first woman selectman in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, said, “It’s a challenge to face the problems that we have today to stretch that dollar and still serve all the people and all the children to the best of our ability.”

“The number one reason I ran for school committee is I think that we can do better than be a level three district,” said Gaucher. “I think that parents need to know that they have a voice to change the way schools run and to get our parents out there to vote and to talk to school principals.”

Sarah Gaucher

Brenda Ennis commented, “As we closed out the last meeting it was an historic one and I think this one is an historic one as well. We have two former Board of Selectman members and a very involved mom who has children in different schools in the area, so I have to say that it is a great dynamic.”

The trio of new board members replaced Marc Peterson, Laura Coonan, and Stephen Anderson.

Zach Tremblay also attended the meeting as the new student council representative.  “I’m sure Zach will do a great job, just as his predecessor Ryan Donovan did and we look forward to having him here,” said Ennis.

The School Committee will meet again on June 11 at Oxford High School at 6PM.

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