Sovinee Elected Chair of Stoughton School Committee; Husseini Now Vice Chair

Deborah Sovinee was unanimously elected chair of the Stoughton School Committee in a meeting held for the purposes of reorganization, prior to the Stoughton High School graduation, the afternoon of June 7.

Joyce Husseini, the , nominated Sovinee for the top leadership spot on the committee. School Committee member George Dolinsky nominated Tom Colburn, who had served as chair prior to Husseini, but Colburn removed himself from the vote, resulting in a 5-0 vote for Sovinee.

Sovinee then nominated Husseini to be vice chair, with Dolinsky again nominating Colburn. But Colburn removed himself from the vote, resulting in a 5-0 vote for Husseini.

Husseini served as chair of the School Committee since last June. This marks the second consecutive School Committee reorganization meeting where the chair became the vice chair. Last June Colburn, then chair, became vice chair as Husseini was elected to the top spot.

"I would like to thank the committee for making my year as chair a rewarding experience," Husseini wrote in an email. "The committee members are a great group of people committed to providing a first class education to all of the children of Stoughton. I am eternally grateful that my employer allowed me the flexibility to be available for the numerous daytime events, meetings and sessions that made it possible for me to immerse myself in the job.  I look forward to continuing in my new role of Vice Chair supporting the Committee and serving as a liaison to the Board of Selectmen."

"I look forward to my new role," Sovinee wrote in an email. "I have enjoyed close relationships with members of the Board of Selectmen, as well as the Interim Town Manager [Joseph Feaster], and hope to bring a continued spirit of cooperation into the new fiscal year. I am hoping to continue a push towards the next phase of our renovation/rebuilding project on the high school, and supporting the superintendent of schools in developing innovative ways to address the academic needs of our students."

Sovinee has played a key role in the push for a for the renovation or rebuilding of Stoughton High School.

The School Committee is currently comprised of Sovinee, Husseini, Colburn, Dolinsky and Dr. Erdem Ural.