News

Litcofsky chosen unanimously

By Angeljean Chiaramida
Staff writer
Published: July 14, 2009

SALISBURY — Linda Litcofsky will attend her first meeting as a Triton School Committee member on July 22, after being unanimously appointed to the position last night by Salisbury officials.

Litcofsky, 43, an electrical engineer and mother of two, assumes the position made vacant by the July 7 resignation of Dale Knowles due to continued poor health.

Knowles and Litcofsky faced off in the May elections for one of the three Salisbury seats on the regional School Committee. Although Litcofsky was the voters' choice in Salisbury, winning her home town handily by more than 100 votes, the voters in Rowley and Newbury gave Knowles the win. The three-town combined total gave Knowles 873 to Litcofsky's 767.

According to the Triton School District Regional Agreement, a vacancy is filled by the appointment of a replacement by the Board of Selectmen and remaining School Committee members from the town where the vacancy is. At last night's meeting, selectmen said they felt their choice should be that of the town's voters, who picked Litcofsky only two months ago.

Selectman Henry Richenburg felt it would be "slap in the face" to town voters if Litcofsky wasn't the immediate choice.

Salisbury's two other Triton School Committee members — Deborah Choate, who sent a letter, and Holly Janvrin — also threw their support to Litcofsky.

"I strongly endorse Linda ... I have from the get-go," Janvrin told selectmen. "What she could do for the board would be amazing. She did run and win in Salisbury."

Initially all selectmen except Fred Knowles favored appointing Litcofsky. Knowles wanted to post the opening inviting others to apply, but he changed his mind after listening to the debate. It was Fred Knowles who made the motion to appoint Litcofsky last night.

"I'm very pleased the selectmen and other School Committee members appointed me unanimously," Litcofsky said. "That support is wonderful."

Litcofsky hopes to be sworn in by Town Clerk Wilma McDonald today so she can begin getting up to speed on school issues. Litcofsky told selectmen that as a resident she will be an advocate for the town, keeping a careful eye on the budget, but also be an advocate for the Triton School District's children.

The coming retirement of Superintendent Sandra Halloran is one of the challenges she sees.

"I think her retirement is a challenge, but I also think it's a great opportunity to find someone who will be an inspiration to the leaders of the district," Litcofsky said.

According to the regional school agreement, Litcofsky will serve on the committee until the next general election, in May 2010, when candidates can run for the seat for the remaining two years of the three-year term.

Knowles, 54, a teacher by training, was a very surprising candidate. Wheelchair-bound after a yearlong battle with brain cancer, Knowles and her husband made no secret that she was running so she could amass the time needed to be vested in the Massachusetts retirement system, which could be done by her serving on the School Committee.

But shortly after being elected, Knowles fell ill again with a serious infection that put her back in the hospital and prevented her from attending any committee meetings. On the road to recovery, she is improving now but still in a rehabilitation facility.

At the time of her resignation, Fred Knowles said he had discovered his wife didn't need more time in the retirement system to be vested and had the time needed to collect either her retirement or disability pension.