Longtime School Committee Staffer Steps Down

For 16 years, Mary Mitchell has carefully recorded the details of Braintree School Committee meetings, taking note of who voted for what, what they said about issues likes the budget, teacher hirings and school space, and documenting the passions, criticisms and questions of countless parents.

Mitchell, a paraeducator at South Middle School, past president of Sustainable Braintree and chair of the Board of Trustees at All Souls Church, recorded her final meeting Monday night at Ross Elementary School.

She resigned her position as School Committee Meeting Recorder effective Nov. 19, citing family reasons. On her last night, she witnessed, among other things, an 81-year-old Army veteran receive his high school diploma, the latest on bullying and body mass index policies, and a school improvement plan from Ross Principal Donna Bonarrigo. 

"I've been privileged to have this job," Mitchell said. "It's been fun."

School Committee members praised Mitchell Monday night for her care in preparing their minutes, and Superintendent Dr. Maureen Murray said those documents were nearly always flawless.

Mitchell herself credited the committee, which she said has always worked well together, even with a shifting roster of members, and that they often vote unanimously, making her job that much easier.

Dr. Murray also announced the upcoming retirement of Business Manager Peter Kress. He will leave Braintree Public Schools effective Aug. 19, 2014, after 16 years of service.

Kress was a school business manager in Maine and an executive at a cheese company there before coming to Braintree. Prior to that, Kress was a principal and teacher in Maine and began his educational career in Illinois in 1970.

"He will be terribly missed," Dr. Murray said, noting that she hopes to get a bit more out of him on school building projects before he departs next summer.