Heller to Seek School Board Chairmanship Once Again

Naugatuck Board of Education Chairman Dave Heller intends to seek the board’s approval to serve as chair for another term.

Heller, a 54-year-old Republican who has served on the school board since 2005, has been chair for the past two-and-a-half years. Prior to then, he served as board secretary for four years.

The new board, which was elected last week, will meet for the first time at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at City Hill Middle School to swear in new board members. From there, the board will vote for leadership positions.

“Yes, I am interested in remaining as the chair if my fellow board members will have me,” he said in response to a question from Naugatuck Patch. “At this point, until we all sit down to discuss it, I’m not sure what is going to happen. I’m hopeful that the board would be interested in me continuing to serve as chairman, but I will have no definitive answers to that until Thursday.”

Heller said he believes the leadership team of the Board of Education has done a good job of providing the best possible opportunities for the district to move forward in a positive direction. 

“I believe Dorothy Neth-Kunin does a wonderful job as vice chair,” he said.

It could not be confirmed as of Tuesday whether Neth-Kunin or someone else would challenge Heller for the chairmanship.

Heller said that even if he is not chair, he will continue to work proactively with the board in the best interest of the school district. 

The board is in the midst of searching for a new superintendent and plans to hire an outside consulting firm to help in that process. Heller said that no matter who the chair is, that will be the most important task the board takes up over the next two years.