DALLAS TWP. — It is difficult to think of leaving the Dallas School Board, Colleen Slocum said at Monday’s board meeting.
Slocum, the president of the board, announced her resignation in September due to a job offer her husband, Chris, has accepted in North Carolina.
Monday’ meeting was the last one for her to conduct.
Superintendent Thomas Duffy recognized Slocum’s dedication to the position and said she invested “many hours in research and analysis, attended additional committee meetings and communicated with all stakeholders, sometimes daily.”
“Serving on a school board provides a unique opportunity to make a real difference in your community for those now in school but also for those who will follow,” Duffy said.
Slocum was elected to the school board in 2011 and served as the policy committee chairwoman for two years, the finance committee chairwoman for one year and two terms as president.
“It is heartwarming to see how enthusiastic parents, grandparents, business professionals, teachers and staff all work together for the common good of our most precious asset, the children of the Dallas School District,” Slocum said. “I am grateful to have been elected to serve; it was a true honor.”
Slocum said the board will accept applications from the public for her position until Oct. 28.
Candidates will be interviewed Nov. 1, 2, and 3. Times for the interviews will be announced, Slocum said.
Public input will be accepted, and the board will make a decision at a special public meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 7 in the administration building.
In other news, progress has been made with the district’s teacher contract negotiations, Dallas School District Attorney Vito Deluca said after the meeting.
Deluca said both parties are cordial and have agreed on “language issues.” Negotiations now are all about the numbers, he said. Issues such as the salary matrix and health care need to be addressed, he said.
The Dallas Education Association, known as the teachers’ union, rescinded its last strike date of Sept. 28 because progress was made during a series of meetings with district officials.
The teachers’ union filed a second strike date of Oct. 25.
The next meeting of the Dallas School Board is slated for 7 p.m. Nov. 14 in the administration building.
