Somerville board swears in four members; Kimmick elected president, Sherwin vice president

Somerville — Four newly elected members of the Somerville Public School District Board of Education were sworn in during the board's Jan. 8 reorganization meeting, and the board elected William Kimmick as president and Amanda Sherwin as vice president.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and district announcements, including an incoming-freshman night on Jan. 14 and reminders about yearbook pricing and a winter clothing drive. The board administered oaths to Lauren Hutchison, Mateo Garcia, Megan Smith and Catherine Shelley Hodges, each confirming they met the legal qualifications and were not disqualified under the statutes read aloud during the ceremony.

After roll call and a statement that the meeting complied with the state's Open Public Meetings Act, the board moved to nominations for leadership. William Kimmick was nominated for board president and, after nominations closed, a roll-call vote recorded affirmative responses from the board members present. The board resolved to install Kimmick as president effective immediately and until the next organization meeting.

"Thank you everybody for just your support again," Kimmick said after the vote, congratulating new members and expressing readiness to begin the year's work.

Amanda Sherwin was nominated and elected vice president in a subsequent roll-call vote. The board then opened the public comment period; Sharon Riddick, identifying herself as SDA president and an English teacher at the high school, congratulated the board and said the district looked forward to partnering with the newly constituted board.

Superintendent-level staff and district leaders noted that the Jan. 8 meeting was primarily for annual organizational items required by law and that a second January meeting would handle substantive business. The board reviewed the code-of-ethics acknowledgement and asked members to sign and return the form before leaving.

On a motion recommended by the superintendent, the board approved a slate of organization meeting action items and liaison appointments. The board also approved district resolutions for grades 9–12; roll-call records show one abstention on one of the 9–12 items. No contested policy debates or formal objections were recorded during the meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. The board scheduled a follow-up meeting in two weeks; members were reminded to sign the code-of-ethics acknowledgement before departing.