Concluding its search, the Guilford Board of Education (BOE) appointed a new member to replace now-State Senator Christine Cohen (D-12) at a special meeting on Feb. 4. The new member, Dr. Richard Hersh, will serve for the remaining 10 months left on Cohen’s term.

Cohen defeated Republican Adam Greenberg on Nov. 6 and was sworn into the legislature this January to succeed former state senator Ted Kennedy Jr.

Cohen tendered her BOE resignation in January and the BOE had 60 days to fill the seat according to the town charter. The town charter also states that since Cohen was elected to the BOE as a member of a party, her replacement has to come from the same political party. The BOE opted to solicit applications and interview candidates on its own rather than go through the Democratic Town Committee.

BOE Chair Bill Bloss said the board received 11 applications for the seat, six of which moved forward to the interview stage. One candidate dropped out due to the time commitment of the BOE.

“Five people went forward and I think I speak for everyone when I say the quality of the people who were interested in this was outstanding,” he said. “I think one of us came in after one of the interviews and said, ‘Oh, well maybe we should all just resign and put these people on.’”

Ultimately the board unanimously approved appointing Hersh. Hersh currently teaches at Yale University in the Education Studies Program. He started as a high school teacher, became a professor, and then worked in senior administration positions at several colleges and universities. He has published numerous books and articles.

“I think it is fair to say that Dr. Hersh is eminently qualified for this position and we are delighted to have you joining us,’ said Bloss. “Dr. Hersh’s experience is something that we hope to be able to use going forward. You join us at a particularly challenging time during the middle of the budget season, but it’s exciting.”

Hersh thanked the board and noted that the interview process he went through for the seat might have been more rigorous than when he interviewed for college president positions.

Cohen’s term on the BOE was set to expire in November 2019, so Hersh will hold the seat for just one year and then have to decide if he wants to run for the seat in 2019. Hersh was appointed just before the BOE voted its budget for the coming fiscal year; he abstained from the vote.