Lanesborough Moderator Robert Reilly, right, explains to the committee what could happen in the next election.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A woman who spent a decade on the Lanesborough School Committee will join the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee.
Sheila Hebert was appointed to the vacant seat of Shari Peltier, who resigned earlier this month, by a joint committee of Selectmen from Williamstown and Lanesborough and the School Committee on Tuesday.
Hebert will finish out Peltier's term, which ends in November 2014.
Hebert was unavailable to attend Tuesday's meeting but provided a statement, which was read by School Committee member David Backus.
The letter outlined her history on the Lanesborough Elementary School Committee for the last 10 years, which included the formation of Union 71 — the agreement to mesh both elementary schools and the high school into one district.
"I have extensive knowledge of working with school budgets, building issues, negotiations etc. I was part of the process of forming Union 71 between the two elementary schools and also when Union 71 formed an agreement to share administrative positions with Mount Greylock Regional," the letter reads. "While the high school has some differences from the elementary, the experience that I have would make it easy for me to transition into the open school committee seat."
Her term on the Lanesborough School Committee ended in June. Hebert also has had two sons graduate from the high school and her daughter is currently in 11th grade.
She is already on the ballot for the November election, which creates an array of scenarios. Hebert will be in a race for a four-year seat against Chris Dodig and Mark Schiek. Dodig was already appointed to the committee to replace Jack Hickey, who also resigned earlier this year.
If Hebert wins election, she would then have to resign from the seat to which she was just appointed and the joint committee would have to appoint someone else to fill out the remainder of Peltier's term. Dodig's term will end in November so he will be campaigning for the seat in which he is currently appointed.
Schiek already interviewed with the board to replace Hickey and was expected to be Peltier's replacement. However, according to Lanesborough Moderator Robert Reilly, Schiek sent an email withdrawing his name from this appointment.
Hebert becomes the third appointed member this year: Backus replaced Abigail Reifsnyder after her January resignation and Dodig replaced Hickey.
The school also lost three administrators in Principal Tim Payne, who took another job in Bennington, Vt., Business Manager Jennifer Coscia and the elimination of the dean of students position, which was replaced with the hiring of Assistant Principal Christopher Barnes.
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