Kingston BOE appoints Erica Burnaby Middleton to vacant seat; routine personnel, schedule and consent votes pass

The Kingston City School District Board of Education on July 23 unanimously appointed Erica Burnaby Middleton to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Trustee Jennifer Fitzgerald and approved a series of routine items, including a salary adjustment and the board's 2025'26 meeting calendar.

The appointment came after a public-comment period in which multiple community members urged the board to fill the vacancy with the candidate who received the next-highest vote total in the recent election. "I am prepared to, be a full time member of this board," Erica Burnaby Middleton said during public comment, adding she stood by the policies and perspectives she had campaigned on. Several parents and community members, including Marissa Manelli and Christina Pickard, spoke in support of Middleton and asked the board to act quickly so the board could be fully staffed for the coming year.

Why this matters: The board filled the vacancy ahead of the new school year, increasing the number of seated trustees and enabling full participation in decisions…