Henderson Rejoins School Board

Former Westborough School Committee member Karen Henderson returned to the board Tuesday night.

Citing her experience, selectmen and the school committee unanimously voted to appoint Henderson to serve until the March 4 annual town election.

The vote came after the boards interviewed resident Charles Gammal for the vacancy.

Gammal, a management consultant, said his experience negotiating more than 100 commercial loan agreements would help him in school union contract negotiations. He also said school finances were the most important issue facing the school committee.

Selectmen and the school committee interviewed Henderson last month for the vacancy. Gammal was not available for that meeting.

Henderson said during her interview that she left the school board during the spring of 2012, ending six years, and that "I know that I could step in and be effective and up to speed almost immediately."

Gammal said Tuesday night he has not attended any school committee meetings, or watched them on Westborough TV.

The vacancy was created when Bruce Tretter resigned in late June, ending 12 years on the board. He cited a "conflict of interest" with his new job, school-related consulting work. The remaining two years of Tretter's three-year term will be on the March ballot.