Board member to resign Holden resident says he has ‘had it’ with SAD 63 group

EDDINGTON – Saying that he had “had it” with the SAD 63 board, member Dick Perry announced Monday that he is resigning his post today.

“Tomorrow morning my resignation will be on the Holden town manager’s desk,” he told the eight-member board.

Perry, of Holden, gave no reason for his verbal resignation, but the 12-year board veteran made his announcement directly after the board discussed reasons behind purchasing only one school bus for the coming school year.

Perry wanted to know why SAD 63 isn’t purchasing two buses, at a district cost of $21,000 each.

“We have three buses sitting over there with 200,000 miles,” he said. “By cutting one bus, we’re cutting kids’ safety.”

He also questioned how long the state would continue to give those buses with high miles inspection stickers.

Several board members, including Chairman Donald Varnum, said budget restraints are preventing the district from purchasing a second bus.

“I’m concerned about it as well, but we also have other programs that we have to look at,” the chairman said.

It takes two years for the state Department of Education to reimburse the district for the costs of buses, board member Carolyn Miller said. With teacher contracts under negotiation, the board thought it prudent not to purchase another bus, she said.

After Perry made his resignation announcement, no one from the board made a comment and the board meeting continued.

“I’ve just had it up to here,” said Perry, gesturing toward his neck, after Monday’s SAD 63 meeting. “Kids’ safety don’t seem to matter. It’s just the last straw.”

When he was leaving the building, Perry said that he has high blood pressure and that stress was not good for his health.

During the meeting, Perry was the one board member who did not endorse the $8.4 million budget that will be presented to residents of Clifton, Eddington and Holden at the annual SAD 63 budget meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, June 9. The meeting, set for the Holbrook Middle School gym, is where residents will vote by show of hands on the 2005-06 budget.

The SAD 63 budget validation referendum and Holden’s local elections are June 14. Voters in Clifton can head to the town office between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and Eddington residents can vote at Comins Hall, 1387 Main Road, between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. The Holden town office will be open for voting from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

One seat on the school board is up for grabs in Holden, not including Perry’s.

A special SAD 63 meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 15 at Holbrook Middle School for the board to ratify the local referendum decision.

In other meeting business Monday, the board accepted the resignation of Holden Elementary School teacher Wendy Bingaman with regret and offered to rehire 12 probationary teachers.