REGION 16 — The Region 16 Board of Education appointed Robert Hiscox chair of the board last week to replace former Chair Donna Cullen.
Hiscox, a 65-year-old Republican from Prospect, was unanimously selected during the board’s Oct. 14 meeting.
Cullen, who has been chair since 2013, resigned last week citing personal reasons and has withdrawn from the race for re-election.
Hiscox was first appointed to the board, which oversees schools in Beacon Falls and Prospect, to fill a vacancy in the spring of 2009. He was subsequently elected to a two-year term in 2011 and a four-year term in 2013. He worked as a science teacher in the Newington school district for 38 years before retiring and is a former teacher of the year in the district.
An organizational meeting of the board will be held in December to elect officers for the next two years. Board policy states that the chair’s seat must rotate every two years following a municipal election between the two towns. So, the next chair must be a board member from Beacon Falls.
Hiscox said the board will continue to work together during his brief time as chair, and has many ongoing issues to focus on, including the implementation of a two-year strategic plan and the sale of Community School in Prospect.
