New Fairfield County school board member Polly Parker took her seat as the District 7 trustee last Thursday night at the beginning of a special called board meeting.

Board chairman Catherine Kennedy recognized Parker, stating that she had been sworn in on July 9. The swearing-in ceremonies will take place during the Tuesday, July 21 regular school board meeting, Kennedy said.

Following the meeting, Parker said that she feels the school district needs to move forward.

“Some of these things that have happened need to be put into the past, and we need to move forward for the benefit of the children,” she said.

Board chair Catherine Kennedy welcomed Parker and said her feelings on having a full board were, “it’s wonderful. All the districts were represented. Everyone was here, everyone had an opportunity to share ideas and ask questions, that’s a wonderful feeling to have a full board,” she said.

The School board, including their new District 7 member proceeded into executive session for a contractual matter and a legal matter.

Board member Henry Miller joined the other board members in executive session.

Back in open session, the entire board voted 7-0 to authorize the chair to send a letter to the Chester County School Distinct explaining the process that Fairfield County School District will follow in releasing students from the school district to other districts.

In a related issue, parents of Mitford area students were sent a letter last week inviting them to attend a public meeting on Fairfield County School District attendance options.

The meeting, ‘a school attendance information sharing meeting for parents of Fairfield County children who have been attending Chester County schools’ is scheduled for Thursday, July 23, 2009, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Mitford Fire Station, 70 Meeting Street.

At that meeting, members of the Fairfield County school board and the school district personnel will present a program explaining the options for the students’ school attendance for the 2009-2010 school year, and will give an overview of the district’s schools. programs and activities.

Parents who are unable to attend the meeting can call district attendance specialist Belva Bush at 803-635-4670, ext. 10308, for more details on the 2009-2010 school attendance options for Mitford area students.