For the first time in more than 15 years, the Lawrence Board of Education’s president and vice president will not be Murray Forman or Asher Mansdorf.
Heshy Blachorsky and Tova Plaut were picked by their trustee colleagues at the July 8 meeting to be the new president and vice president, respectively.
Blachorsky, who has served for 12 years as a trustee, said he “did not expect this tonight” and that it’s “an honor and it’s humbling” to be elected board president.
“To be able to continue what I’ve been doing for the past 12 years in the position of president, I’m looking forward to working with all my colleagues on the board in unison and lockstep,” Blachorsky said. “We will continue to work together to keep the district and the children on the upper trajectory we’ve been having since Dr. Pedersen came into the superintendent office.”
Ann Pedersen is the school district’s superintendent.
“I’m always excited to tackle something new, but I was not expecting this,” Blachorsky added.
This is Plaut’s fifth-consecutive term as trustee, as vice president she said she aims to continue supporting the children and families in the school district, and to help ensure that all the children are receiving the education and services they deserve.
It’s an honor to be re-elected as trustee and now entrusted by my colleagues to serve as Vice President,” Plaut wrote in an email. “I remain deeply committed to serving our community with integrity and purpose, and I look forward to working alongside President Heshy Blachorsky and the board to advance the best interests of all our students and families.”
Both Forman and Mansdorf were absent from the reorganizational meeting.
“I remain a trustee with a term that ends June 2026 and I plan to finish the term,” Forman said.
Blachorsky and Plaut were both sworn in as president and vice president at the meeting, respectively by Albert D’Agostino, the school district’s lawyer.
New Trustee Tova Rosenfeld was also sworn in, replacing longtime Trustee Michael Hatten on the board.
“I’m committed to putting students first and working collaboratively with the board, administrators, teachers, and community members to drive positive change,” Rosenfeld wrote in an email. “I’m excited to get to work and make a difference in our school district.”
Rachel Kreiss, the Lawrence Teachers Association president, noted at the July 8 meeting about trustees not attending meetings in the past.
“I know many of you just took an oath to be part of this board of education to represent the best of your ability the public school children and their families,” Kreiss said. “I hope to see you at these board meetings, some of you I’ve been to more meetings than you have. I hope that changes because you belong at these meetings.
“It is important, I understand you have other commitments but you made a commitment to represent the Lawrence Public Schools and I hope you will do that,” Kreiss added.
Have an opinion on school board attendance? Send letter to mberman@liherald.com.
