New Vernon School Board Members Officially Take Their Seats

VERNON, CT — The public school system in Vernon is beginning the second hundred days of the 2020-21 academic year with two new school board members.

Jennifer Buckler and Kristina Wintress were officially seated Monday.

The Vernon Town Council endorsed them on Feb. 2 and they were sworn in Feb. 4.

Both were appointed by the Democratic Town Committee after Michele Arn and Latasha Hyatt stepped down, citing personal reasons.

Vernon Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary told patch that he was looking forward to working with Buckler and Wintress.

The will be filling out the remainder of the current terms.

Wintress is a New Jersey Native who ran for a seat on the local school board in 2019. According to her resume, she is a restaurant staff members with experience int he school system as a substitute teacher. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Connecticut and recently completed a paralegal certificate program at Manchester Community College, according t her resume.

Buckler is a clerk at the Vernon-based law firm of Marder, Roberson and DeFelice law firm and a juris doctorate candidate at the University of Connecticut School of Law, according to her resume. She ran for a spot on the board in 2019 and she was the treasurer for the 2020 campaign of state Rep. Michael Winkler.

The local school system celebrated its first 100 days of the current school year Friday.