Barone to not seek re-election

Mount Vernon Board of Education member Paula Barone has announced that she does not plan to seek re-election to the board.

The announcement came in a May 10 email sent to members of the board.

Barone is one of three remaining board members who voted for the controversial firing of teacher John Freshwater.

In her recent email, Barone cited health problems of her daughter as causing her to “re-prioritize my time and energy.”

Although she is going to serve out the rest of her term, she asked board members to consider re-assigning some of her responsibilities to other board members.

One of the responsibilities that she asked be transferred to someone else was her role as an appointed member of the Knox County Career Center Board of Education.

The Mount Vernon News reports that at the May 16 meeting of the KCCC board, Steve Thompson was sworn in to replace Barone.

See here for a copy of Barone’s May 10 email.