Andover School Committee elects Shauna Murray interim vice chair, approves future leadership roles

The Andover School Committee on March 27 elected Shauna Murray interim vice chairperson effective immediately through the conclusion of Andover’s 2025 annual town meeting, and later voted to name Murray the committee’s future chair upon the meeting’s conclusion. The committee also voted to make Lauren Conisenti vice chairperson effective at the conclusion of the same town meeting.

The interim vice chair nomination was moved on the record and seconded; Shauna Murray accepted the nomination. The roll-call vote on the interim vice chair motion was 5–0: Chris Shepley — yes; Jake Demarkin — yes; Warren — yes; Shauna Murray — yes; Chair — yes. The committee then moved and approved a separate motion making Murray the future chair at the end of the town meeting; that motion passed 5–0 on a roll call.

Later in the meeting, the committee voted to elect Lauren Conisenti as vice chairperson effective at the conclusion of the annual town meeting. The recorded roll-call on that motion was 3–2 in favor, with Chris Shepley and Jake Demarkin recorded as voting no and Shauna Murray, Warren and Lauren Conisenti recorded as voting yes. The motion was declared approved, 3–2.

Committee members discussed that the committee’s practice follows Policy BDA regarding reorganization after elections and that the chair and vice chair positions are tied to the annual town meeting cycle. The chair noted the committee custom of allowing a newly selected vice chair an opportunity to build experience before potentially assuming the chair role after town meeting.

The votes were procedural and filled leadership vacancies created by the recent election. After completing the reorganization votes the committee adjourned the business portion of the meeting and moved into a scheduled workshop.