Hunnicutt Announces BOE Retirement

Board of Education member Alice Hunnicutt announced Tuesday evening that she will not be seeking reelection to a fourth term on the in the April election.

Hunnicutt, the chairwoman of the board's long range planning committee, said she was stepping down to allow others a chance to serve on the board. She is the second BOE incumbent to announce their retirement from the board, with Gary McCready he would not seek reelection to a third term.

"I have had nine wonderful years and it's been an amazing experience," Hunnicutt said.

Hunnicutt is a former chairwoman of the board's curriculum committee and has been known for her work on special education issues. She serves as the board's liaison with the Parent Teacher Council special education committee and the anti-bullying task force and has been active on bullying prevention during the past year.

"It is just time," Hunnicutt said of her retirement, noting that she believes it would be good for the board to gain new members.

BOE Vice President Ann Cary is the only incumbent up for reelection not to disclose her plans for the year. Cary, who is completing her second term, has to run, but said she has not made a finally decision on running. Education consultant Rosanne Kurstedt and Lincoln School PTO co-president Jennifer Blessing are the only two announced candidates for the board. Jennifer Silva, Lynn Spadaro and Karym Hoems have also signed out petitions to run but have not indicated if they plan to run.

Patch has learned up to two more candidates could enter the race for the board before the March 8 petition deadline. The board election will be on April 27.

Both Hunnicutt and McCready will continue serving until their terms expires in early May. Hunnicutt continued pressing ahead with her duties, announcing a long range planning committee meeting for Wednesday evening.

Hunnicutt did use her announcement to encourage Westfielders to run for a BOE seat.

"It is an amazing experience to serve as an elected official," she said.