SOUTH HADLEY — The School Committee is looking to fill a vacancy until April 2025 after former member Lynda Pickbourn resigned.

During the School Committee meeting on March 7, School Committee Chair Eric Friesner shared a letter that she sent in for her decision to step away.

Pickbourn stated that her reason for resigning was related to the health and well-being of her family and “it was a difficult decision as I’ve been looking forward to working with [the School Committee] for the two years that remain on my term.”

She also discussed how she enjoyed learning more about public education during her time on the committee and its impact. She was appointed to the committee in January 2022 and ran for another three-year term in April 2023.

Pickbourn added, “Public education has the potential to address the inequalities that are fundamental to capitalist societies. Public education offers all of us an opportunity to build bridges across the divides of race and class and to develop empathy and understanding of others who may be different from ourselves.”
Pickbourn acknowledged her positive time participating in contract negotiations with the Custodial Workers Union, serving on the Joint Labor Management Committee.

“I believe deeply that our school district is in a good place. Both experiences have been a reminder that the administrators, the faculty and the staff in South Hadley School District are invested in our students and are doing their best even in the face of funding challenges,” Pickbourn said.

She concluded by thanking the staff, the School Committee and residents who voted for her.

The School Committee also thanked her for her time serving on the committee and wished her the best.

South Hadley began looking to address that vacancy immediately.

Anyone interested in applying for the position are asked to submit a letter of interest to Executive Assistant to Administration Kristin Maher via email at kmaher@southhadleyma.gov or through the mail to Selectboard Office, 116 Main St., South Hadley, MA, 01075. Applicants may submit a resume, but it is not required. Letters of interest and any additional documents must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 25. Once received by Selectboard administration, a complete packet for each candidate’s submission will be made publicly available.

School Committee and Selectboard chairs will decide when to have a joint meeting with the remaining School Committee members and members of the Selectboard to conduct interviews.

The joint committee, by way of nomination and subsequent vote to appoint, will fill the vacancy on the South Hadley School Committee from the date of appointment to the next annual town election, scheduled for April 2025.