Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Organization topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board member resigns amid accusations as Phil Hogan is elected chair of New Canaan Board of Education
Summary
At the Nov. 17 organizational meeting, the board swore in new members, elected Phil Hogan chair and Laura Kelly vice chair, and accepted an on‑the‑record resignation from a board member who alleged collusion; elections for chair, vice chair and secretary were all approved.
Phil Hogan was elected chair of the New Canaan Board of Education at the board’s Nov. 17 organizational meeting, and Laura Kelly was elected vice chair.
First Selectman Danna Carlson (named in the meeting record) called for nominations after a proposed motion to suspend bylaw 9120 — a one‑year suspension of the two‑year term limit for the chair — received no seconder and was not moved. A board member nominated Phil Hogan for chair; the board voted to approve his election and the result was announced as passing (count handled by Lisa). Laura Kelly was later nominated and elected unanimously as vice chair after Hugo Alves declined a nomination.
During the same organizational segment, Erica Schwedell was nominated and elected secretary. At the time of the secretary nominations, a board member who identified himself in the record as Matt delivered a lengthy statement alleging collusion involving other members and announced that he was resigning “effective immediately.” The speaker used only his given name in the transcript; the record does not supply a full surname for that speaker in the portions where he read his statement. The resignation was taken as an on‑the‑record announcement during the meeting.
The board also approved the meeting agenda and the Nov. 3 minutes (the minutes were recorded as approved with Kate Brambella and Joshua K abstaining).
The organizational meeting proceeded to other business after the officer elections and the resignation announcement.
What happens next: The board will continue routine business at its Dec. 1 meeting, which the chair and staff said will include a legislative update and the district’s budget assumptions for FY 2026–27.
