By Jarret Liotta
After 16 years of service, Chairman Mark Mathias bid farewell to the Board of Education (BOE) tonight.
Outgoing Board of Education members Neil Phillips (l) and Chairman Mark Mathias. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
Neil Phillips, who served a year, was also honored in his departure, as neither man sought reelection this month.
“Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to contribute to so many students’ lives through my service on the Board of Education,” said Mathias, who came to Westport in 2001 from California with his family.
More than anything, Mathias was hailed for his inclusiveness and positive attitude, in particular as chair.
“I’ve always been so impressed with your consistent integrity and kindness,” said Vice Chair Jeannie Smith, praising his “heart in recognizing all the good amid the challenging things that need attention.”
“As a board member you led with a heart,” BOE member Vik Muktavaram said, “and as a chairperson you led with a heart.”
“I wanted to thank you for always having a very strong moral compass to guide the board,” BOE member Karen Kleine said.
“It has been such an honor for us to watch and learn from you these past 16 years,” said his wife, Kim, speaking on behalf of their family.
“You never heard a complaint, only a chance to help,” she said, addressing him from the podium. “You never saw a problem, only a chance to make something better.”
“We’ve had an extremely jam-packed year,” said Phillips, who served on the Representative Town Meeting for four years prior to joining the BOE, and chaired its Education Committee.
“I am proud to have gone through the fire with all of you,” he said.
“I will miss all of you and in some twisted and bizarre way, I will miss these meetings,” he said.
“What a year you chose to come to the Board of Education,” said Mathias, who praised Phillips for his clarity, levelheadedness, “and your ability to see both sides.”
First Selectman Jim Marpe, a former BOE chair, was in attendance to thank both men, whose seats will be filled by newly elected Democrats Youn Su Chao and Lee Goldstein.
“You were that calming voice,” Marpe told Mathias in relation to recent challenges, “and someone who just stepped back and said we can work our way through this.”
“To both of you,” he said, “I thank you for that service.”
