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Southbridge School Committee elects Britney Davidson chair, names Carla Dela Cruz Davila vice chair
Summary
At its July 8 reorganization meeting, the Southbridge School Committee elected Britney Davidson chair (6–1), appointed Carla Dela Cruz Davila vice chair, approved liaison assignments and reviewed progress on DESE plan implementation and member trainings.
The Southbridge School Committee voted July 8 in Council Chambers to elect Britney Davidson chair and to select Carla Dela Cruz Davila as vice chair during its annual reorganization meeting.
Davidson was elected chair after nominations; the committee recorded a 6–1 tally for her election. "I just wanna thank everyone on the committee for voting for me for chair, and I look forward to working with you all over the next year, and continuing with our DESE plan," Davidson said after the vote.
The committee also nominated and approved Carla Dela Cruz Davila as vice chair; the chair reported the vice‑chair vote was approved with one abstention. The panel approved several routine items, including minutes from the June meeting and the appointments of liaisons to advisory groups: Maria Torres as LPAC liaison and Norma Tysnick as CPAC liaison.
Members spent the bulk of the meeting reviewing progress toward meeting expectations in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) plan to build committee capacity. Several members reported one‑on‑one meetings with a DESE representative, Juan Perez, and attendance at DESE community forums and CPAC sessions. Martina Shay described her meeting with Perez as "very good" and said the one‑on‑one format allowed members to ask both specific and general questions about the district's path forward.
Committee members also reported completion or registration for required trainings. Stephanie Rivers said she had completed the ethics training and signed up for open meeting law training and "chart the course" training; several members said they planned to attend a conference in November. Members noted turnout at a CPAC table at a June 21 family event that generated parent contact information for future outreach.
Two procedural items were set for next steps: the next regular meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m., and a committee member asked that time be reserved on the August agenda to consider returning member announcements and reviving committee structures.
Votes at a glance: - Chair election — Britney Davidson elected chair; recorded tally 6 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain; nominees were Britney Davidson and Martina Shay; outcome: approved. - Vice chair election — Carla Dela Cruz Davila elected vice chair; reported as approved "unanimous with 1 abstention"; outcome: approved. - Approval of June minutes — motion passed on voice vote; outcome: approved. - LPAC liaison appointment — Maria Torres appointed; outcome: approved. - CPAC liaison appointment — Norma Tysnick appointed; outcome: approved. - Motion to adjourn — passed; outcome: approved.
The meeting resumed after the reorganization procedure to continue routine business, with members emphasizing training, community outreach and continued work under the DESE receivership plan. The committee closed by scheduling the August meeting and agreeing to place member announcements and possible committee reinstatement on the next agenda.
