Galasso resigns from school board

Says she missed too many meetings and ‘didn’t feel like I was doing my part’ because of schedule conflicts.

By: Eileen Oldfield
   Six-year Board of Education member Lisa Galasso resigned from her post at Tuesday night’s meeting in a letter sent to the school board prior to the meeting.
   Ms. Galasso sent her resignation letter to school board Secretary Richard Reilly; her resignation, as stated in her letter, was effective Tuesday.
   She did not attend Tuesday’s meeting, nor did her letter give her reason for leaving.
   "I resigned because I could not attend all the meetings," said Ms. Galasso in a phone interview Wednesday. "I’ve missed the past few meetings because of work, and I just didn’t feel like I was doing my part as a board member. It was really a conflict with my schedule."
   The board unanimously approved the resignation.
   Ms. Galasso began serving on the board in 2001, while filling in for Andrew Zangara after his resignation. She ran for a three-year term on the board in 2002, and was re-elected for another three-year term in 2005. Her term would have ended in April 2008.
   During her time on the board, Ms. Galasso served as the Personnel Committee chairwoman, and as a member of the Policy Committee. She joined the board a few days after the 2001 teacher strike was settled, and was a member during former Superintendent Francis X. Heelan’s resignation and current Superintendent Donald Burkhardt’s hiring.
   Ms. Galasso was quick to point to her highlight while on the board: "My most personal memory was handing my son, Kyle, his diploma at graduation."
   But she also noted the district’s accomplishments of which she was part.
   "I enjoyed the personnel committee because you got to get involved with tenures and present it to the board," she said.
   Ms. Galasso also mentioned that she was happy about the school budget passing twice while she was on the board and after hiring Dr. Burkhardt.
   Under statute, the board has 60 days to appoint a replacement to finish the remainder of Ms. Galasso’s term. The board hopes to name a replacement at its July 24 meeting.
   The board will accept letters of request for the position from now until July 15. Manville residents age 18 and over may apply for the position, as long as they are registered to vote and can read and write English. The letter should include background information, and why the person is interested in serving on the board.
   During the July 24 meeting, the board will interview the candidates publicly, and will adjourn to a closed session to pick Ms. Galasso’s replacement.