SALISBURY — When she began her service as one of Salisbury's representatives on the Triton School Committee, Susan Fish's daughter was in first grade.

Today, that daughter is finishing up graduate school, and Fish has decided it's time to move on. After 17 years on the committee, Fish won't be standing for re-election, she said. It's time for another Salisbury resident to step up to the plate on behalf of the region's children.

Beginning her tenure in 1992, Fish has served the town and Triton School District on many fronts, and according to Salisbury's selectmen and Triton Superintendent Sandra Halloran, she's done that job well. Taking her turn in the leadership roles as chairwoman, vice chairwoman and secretary, Fish also worked on many other subcommittees over the years, and has more than once made the difficult decisions that come with hard financial times.

"It's been a pleasure working with Sue Fish," Halloran said yesterday. "She's been a real asset to School Committee and to the district. She's fair and open-minded and informed. She always makes sure she's well informed about the issues we deal with."

Recently, Fish told selectmen, one of the most enjoyable times during her 17-year tenure was the hours, days, weeks and months she spent working on the Salisbury Elementary School Building Committee, a role she shared with Selectman Henry Richenburg.

Although Fish is stepping aside, according to the town clerk's office, no one has stepped forward to fill her role, and time's running out.

According to Town Clerk Wilma McDonald, those wishing to run for town or school district offices must take out candidates' papers by Friday, March 20, and return them with the signatures of at least 29 registered Salisbury voters by Tuesday, March 24, at 5 p.m.

Richenburg and Selectman Don Beaulieu — whose terms on the Board of Selectmen are up this year — have taken out their candidacy papers to run for re-election to the board. But no one else has come forward to run against them.

Triton School Committee has nine members, three from each of the sending towns of Salisbury, Rowley and Newbury. Currently, Deborah Choate and Holly Janvrin fill the other two Salisbury seats on the board.

Choate, a five-year veteran of the School Committee, said Fish always portrayed honesty and professionalism during the years they served together.

"I like Susan very much," Choate said. "She really understood the role of a School Committee member very well, and that's important."

Choate encourages all Salisbury residents to fulfill their civic duty, whether that's attending town meetings or running for office. Those considering a run for School Committee should understand being a good listener is an important talent, especially at the beginning.

"You don't need experience in education to be a School Committee member," Choate said. "You need to be willing to participate honestly and learn what you need to learn. It's better to come in with a positive point of view and an open mind than to come in with guns blazing, because it's the best way to get things done."