After the resignation of former Ward 5 School Committee Member Tera Norberg at the end of July, the hunt for a new school committee member is under way with applications for the position due by August 31.

According to the Cranston Home Rule Charter, chapter 2 section 2.06, states that  any vacancy in the school committee after the first six months of a two-year term will be “filled by the school committee, respectively, for the unexpired portion of the term, provided that in the case of a council vacancy the position shall be filled with a person belonging to the same political party as the late incumbent and if the late incumbent had been a representative of a ward, with a person residing in the same ward.”

As such, the School Committee began accepting applications and resumes for the position beginning August 4. This is the same process the Committee took part in during the replacement of the Ward 1 seat in 2022.

The Cranston School Committee is traditionally made up of six members, as well as a citywide chairperson, currently former Mayor Michael Traficante. The committee, which works closely with Cranston Public School administration to develop the annual budget, create and oversee implementation of district policy and support the work of students and schools, must have a representative of each ward in order to give all of Cranston residents and students an equal voice.

Those interested in applying for the position must submit their resume to either School Committee Chairman Michael Traficante, mtraficante@nellmct.com, or Elementary School Secretary Deborah Hayden, dhayden@cpsed.net. Applicants should be prepared to speak during the School Committee meeting on Monday, September 11, which is where the selection of a the new member will be made.

After each candidate speaks, the current School Committee will ask them a series of questions that will be the same for each candidate. Following presentations and questioning, each member of the Committee will make nominations from the presented candidates and vote for who will fill the seat. Selection will be made according to who has received the most votes and the winning candidate will be sworn in as the new Ward 5 Cranston School Committee representative.