Two Republicans voted onto Ledyard school board
Ledyard — The school board voted Wednesday night to appoint Karen Butterworth-Erban and Bob Guerrera to seats on the board.
Nominated by the Republican Town Committee, the two Republicans take the place of Mimi Peck-Llewellyn and David Luke, who resigned in September. Both votes were unanimous.
Bob Guerrera is a Gales Ferry resident and currently works as the manager of a Stop & Shop in Montville. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing with a minor in law and has two children: a 7-year-old in the school system and a 3-year-old.
Karen Butterworth-Erban, also a Gales Ferry resident, currently is the director of Nursing at the Southeastern Mental Health Authority in Norwich, part of the state Department of Addiction and Mental Health Services. She has one master's degree in nursing and another in organizational leadership, and also has two children: a 9-year-old at Gales Ferry School and a 3-year-old. She said she wanted to bring her professional background to the school system.
Both members will be sworn in at a later date ahead of the next Board of Education meeting.
Longtime member Rebecca Graebner, who announced she would be stepping down from the board last week, also got a send-off from board members. Chairman Anthony Favry presented her with an award for her five-and-a-half years of service.
Board member Stephanie Calhoun credited Graebner with providing an analytical voice at meetings and for building support to renovate the town’s middle and elementary schools.
“Those two buildings we’re going to have ... it was your passion in front of our citizens that made the project come to fruition,” she told Graebner.
The Democratic Town Committee is soliciting candidates for Graebner’s seat.
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