Announcement of School Committee Opening

November 7, 2025 

The Arlington School Committee is seeking candidates to fill a vacancy. The term for this office expires on March 29, 2026. The individual selected will begin serving on the Committee immediately upon being sworn into office.

Applicants are required to submit a statement of their reasons for serving on the Committee, a resume, and any other information the candidate wishes to present regarding their interest in serving.

All applications must be received by the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent’s office, Liz Diggins ([email protected]) by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2025.

All candidates for membership on the Committee are invited to an open meeting of the School Committee on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the School Committee room, located on the second floor of 14 Mill Brook Drive, Arlington, MA, 02476, to make a case for their appointment. Candidates will have five minutes to speak to the Committee, and Committee members may ask questions of each candidate. The vote to select a candidate to fill the vacancy will take place following the candidate presentations and questions by Committee members.

For reference, the School Committee policy is File BBBE – Unexpired Term Fulfillment

File: BBBE - UNEXPIRED TERM FULFILLMENT

The Town Manager Act of Arlington provides that:

"When a vacancy occurs in the membership of the School Committee, the remaining members of the School Committee shall, after a one week's notice, fill such vacancy by ballot. A majority of the ballots of the members entitled to vote shall be necessary to such election. The person so appointed shall perform the duties of the office until the next annual election, at which the voters shall elect a member of the School Committee for the remainder of the un-expired term."

The School Committee shall by majority vote commence the process described below to fill the vacancy.

      1. The School Committee shall inform the public through all available media, including the School Department's website, that a position on the School Committee is vacant. Per the Town Manager's Act, the opening shall be posted for one week.

      2. The notice of vacancy shall invite all residents of the Town who are interested in serving to submit an application for membership on the Committee by a date certain. The notice shall include the date and time at which candidates can speak about their candidacy before an open meeting of the School Committee.

      3. Said application shall include a statement of the candidate's reasons for serving on the Committee, a resume, and any other information the candidate wishes to present regarding his or her interest in serving on the School Committee.

      4. All candidates for membership on the Committee shall be invited to an open meeting to make a case for their appointment, and each member of the School Committee may ask the candidates questions. The appearance of the candidates will be determined by lot prior to the first speaker. The order of the questions from School Committee members shall be by rotation. The Chair of the School Committee has the discretion to set an appropriate time limit for each candidate's presentation and for questioning by the School Committee.

      5. Once all candidates have presented, the School Committee shall take a roll call vote to select the new member. Balloting shall continue until one candidate secures a majority. The candidate with the least amount of votes shall be excluded in the next round of balloting. Upon winning a majority, the new member shall begin service on the School Committee after taking the oath of office.

Attached Files