Inter-Lakes School Board vacancy quickly filled by Meredith parent

MEREDITH — When longtime Inter-Lakes School Board member Mark Billings decided to step down from his seat in July, a parent in the district was waiting in the wings to fill the vacant spot.

Abe Garon, of Meredith, was appointed to the school board on July 23, for the remaining eight months of the first year of Billings' three-year term. In March, the seat will be up for grabs, and Garon said he plans to run.

“My interest in this seat pre-dated my appointment,” Garon said. “I am planning to run formally in March.”

School board Chair Charley Hanson of Center Harbor said Billings was originally planning not to run for reelection last March, but was urged to do so, and ultimately retained his seat. However, in July, Billings notified Hanson he wished to resign, and said Garon would be ready to take on the role.

Hanson said Billings, who lives in Meredith, had been thinking about his time on the board as the summer hit, and on a Monday morning just before the July 23 meeting, Hanson received a call from Billings, saying he was going to “hang up the shoes.” Hanson noted Billings was getting older, had been on the board for more than a dozen years, and thought it was time for new blood.

“Mark decided after long, hard, thought over the summer that he wanted to be done, and he resigned at that time,” Hanson said. “I said I respected that, and it was none of my business.”

Garon said he was interested in running for the seat, but felt the seat was in good hands with Billings. He gave a “courtesy call” to Billings, who informed him he had decided to run, and Garon decided to opt out. This is when it became clear to Billings, and the rest of the board, Garon was interested in serving.

Hanson said the board consulted with the district’s attorney on whether an advertisement for the position was needed, and learned they could simply appoint someone with a board vote.

“We felt fortunate that he brought his name forward,” Hanson said. “Many of the board members knew him, and he got broad support, and was unanimously appointed to fill the spot.”

When asked why they did not advertise for the position, Hanson said knowing they had an interested party in Garon who could start immediately was ideal. In his experience on boards, Hanson has found it can be difficult to find someone to step in.

“Filling board seats, and I say this in general whether it is school board or another board, can be challenging.”

The board made the appointment in a non-public session on July 23, which lasted only two minutes, with a 6-0 vote.

Garon, 44, grew up in New Hampton, and graduated from Newfound Regional High School. He later earned a degree from the University of New Hampshire, moved to Boston for work, then about 11 years ago came back to the area when his wife was pregnant with their first child.

Garon now has a 10-year-old son and an 8-year-old daughter, attending fifth and third grade respectively in the Inter-Lakes district. He said when they decided to move back to the Lakes Region, he and his wife arranged with their employers to work remotely. He said it was always the plan to raise their children here, and while he is still working for a management consulting firm in Boston, his remote work gives him flexibility to be able to attend meetings.

His professional experience in change management entails thinking strategically, and this lends well to Garon’s work on the board.

“This has been helpful in being open-minded, thinking about how decisions are made from multiple perspectives,” he said.

Garon said having four board members with students in the district is helpful, because they bring the perspective of being a parent as well as being able to help with their professional expertise.

He said current board members have been great about answering questions, explaining procedures, and working together.

“This is a great group of community members that I work with,” Garon said. “There are a lot of great people who put in the work and have the support of the community, staff, and the district. It feels like we are in a good place.”

Garon feels like the school board position has been a natural fit, and he recognizes the importance of education.

Hanson has been impressed by Garon these last few months, saying he is community-oriented and has a solid financial background. While the appointment allows for him to fill the seat until Town Meeting in March, Hanson encourages Garon to run for the final two years of the seat.

Garon knows he represents a district that has yet to vote for him, and hopes his work speaks for itself come election time.

“What a great opportunity to be able to work and learn the lob before formally applying and being elected.”