School Committee member Erin Brunelle was appointed vice chair of the Holyoke School Committee on Tuesday, January 2, following a 6-3 vote of the 10-member committee. Newly elected school committee member Gloria Caballero-Roca was not present for the vote, which was held during the School Committee's annual reorganizational meeting.
Miss Brunelle is replacing Mildred Lefebvre who previously served as vice chair. Committee member Yadilette Rivera Colón was also seeking the vice chair role, but she did not secure the necessary six votes to be appointed.
“It’s an honor to be with others who share the common goal of wanting to lead this committee,” Miss Brunelle said after voting had concluded. “So many years it was such an easy decision because only one person has stepped forward. So I just want to recognize Dr. Yadilette Rivera Colón for her willingness to step forward and want to lead the committee also.”
Miss Brunelle thanked her colleagues on the School Committee for their support. “I just want you all to have faith and confidence that I will lead this committee with the interest of what’s best for the children of Holyoke, the teachers of Holyoke, the staff of Holyoke, and ultimately to represent this body’s will as a whole and as a majority. I look forward to working with the mayor and the current receiver towards exiting receivership.”
The next meeting of the HPS School Committee is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16.