Schools

School Board Chairman Erases Party Affiliation From His Board

Dean Houle filed a form to drop his Republican status on Thursday.

Board of Education Chairman Dean Houle called Wednesday's meeting to order.
He called for the Pledge of Allegiance and recognized a quorum. Nothing was different about that.

But it was his first meeting as a former Republican.

Houle has filed paperwork to change his status as a registered voter in Vernon from the GOP to an unaffiliated status. The form was dropped off Thursday and is sitting in the registrars of voters in-box at Town Hall, Town Clerk Bernice Dixon said Monday afternoon.

Houle's status becomes official when election officials formally file the paperwork.

At the Board of Education meeting, Houle acknowledged his intentions and said he would offer a formal response later that night. He then said a response would come on Tuesday.

Republican Town Committee Chairman Harold "Hal" Cummings said on Monday that he has not received any letter of resignation from Houle. Cummings did say he expected one.  

Houle has been critical of Mayor George Apel and the Town Council Republicans after Apel removed $1.5 million from the school board's budget request and the council Republicans voted to send a $50.1 million school budget to the voters.

That number leaves intact Apel's reduction.

Houle's status should no affect voting because he votes only to break ties. 


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