Mahoney fills vacancy on school board

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Naugatuck Board of Education member Jill Mahoney, right, presents Maple Hill Elementary School fourth-grader Nate DiMatteo with a certificate during the Board of Education meeting April 9. Mahoney was chosen the night before to fill a vacancy on the board. –LUKE MARSHALL
Naugatuck Board of Education member Jill Mahoney, right, presents Maple Hill Elementary School fourth-grader Nate DiMatteo with a certificate during the Board of Education meeting April 9. Mahoney was chosen the night before to fill a vacancy on the board. –LUKE MARSHALL

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck Board of Education welcomed its newest member last week.

Jill Mahoney, the head of the nonprofit organization Naugatuck Discovery, was chosen to fill the seat left vacant when former board member James Jordan passed away in February.

“We are very excited to have her on board,” Board of Education Chairman David Heller said.

Mahoney said she has wanted to join the board for a while.

“It’s something that I wanted to do for a very long time. My children are at the age that I can now put in the time to do the Board of Education,” Mahoney said. “I like their vision and their message of educating all students for tomorrow’s future. I’m looking to be part of that team and bring the students forward.”

According to Heller, Mahoney was one of four candidates the board interviewed for the seat.

Board member Glenn Connan voted against Mahoney, saying that it had an appearance of impropriety because of her position at Naugatuck Discovery, Heller said. The organization is a collaborative of several groups that work to increase awareness of the importance of the early childhood years on a child’s social, emotional and academic success.

Heller said there is no impropriety because Mahoney is not paid by the school system and the board does not fund the organization.

Mahoney said she plans run for the school board in the November election.