School Board Appoints Officers

The Salem School Board completed its expected reorganization on Tuesday, naming Bernard Campbell Jr. as chairman for the next year.

Campbell will take the place of Pamela Berry, who previously served as chairman. Campbell praised her work over the past year leading the board.

"That leadership was stellar in that we accomplished a lot," he said, citing the work done to pass Phase II renovations for three elementary schools as well as working out safety issues in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting.

Patricia Corbett will serve as vice chairman while Peter Morgan will take over as secretary.

As for the assignments to various committees, the board will keep the same people as representatives for many of the current boards.

Berry will continue to represent the school board on the Salem Budget Committee, with Michael Carney Jr. acting as an alternate.

For the Strategic Planning Committee, Berry and Campbell will participate.

For the Casino Advisory Committee, Carney will remain on board.

Morgan will continue to serve as the representative for the committee studying the Salem High School renovations, while Campbell will facilitate on the Elementary Renovation Committee.

Corbett will continue attending meetings related to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accreditation process.

Other appointments, such as those related to negotiating teams, will wait until Campbell can confer with the rest of the board.

The board also approved Lani Leland as its recording secretary for the next year.

For the school district legal council, the board voted to continue with Soule, Leslie, Kidder, Sayward and Loughman, P.L.L.C.

Superintendent Michael Delahanty referred to the firm as "very responsive."