By BRIDGET TURCOTTE
NAHANT — The search is on for a School Committee member to fill a vacancy left by former chairman Michael Quigley, who stepped down on July 1.
Quigley moved to Swampscott and is no longer eligible to serve as an elected official in Nahant, though he said he plans to return to town and public service as quickly as possible.
“I see myself moving back to Nahant and getting involved again with the town in some capacity,” he said. “I really love it there. I love Swampscott, it’s a great town, but I see myself back in Nahant someday soon.”
Those interested in serving on the board should write a letter of interest to the Nahant School Committee. The applicants will be interviewed by selectmen and School Committee members on July 19 at 7 p.m. The person selected by a majority vote will occupy the seat until the next annual town election, but will not necessarily serve as chairperson.
It will be determined whether vice-chairwoman Lori Ballantine will fill the role or there will be a complete reorganization of all positions, Quigley said.
Ballantine could not be reached for comment.
Quigley served on the board for six years and spent about half the time as the committee’s chairman. During his reign, he said he and his fellow committee members saw the department through difficult times and have since made great strides for education.
He said 2012 was kind of a divisive year for the town. “We had an override vote and some programs were cut. Enrollment was dropping. The school and the district were in kind of a transitional stage.”
In the past few years, the town hired a new superintendent of schools and principal for the Johnson Elementary School — Tony Pierantozzi and Kevin Andrews. Pierantozzi’s contract was recently extended through 2019, Quigley said.
“I am very proud that we had an orderly, calm, peaceful transition from one administration to the next,” he said. “We have a new principal who has injected a lot of vigor and enthusiasm into the school.”
Quigley said programs have improved with the use of the community garden, and school concerts. Large ceremonies have been moved to Town Hall to bring them to the forefront of the community, and the institution has risen to Level 1 status.
“Enrollment is starting to go up,” he said. “Kids who had left the district for private school are starting to come back. I leave with a little bit of sadness because I have really enjoyed my time on the committee, but I also leave with a feeling of accomplishment because the district is in a good place right now and it’s in good hands.”
Quigley said he hopes to get involved with the town in different capacities once he returns as a resident.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.