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“It is unfortunate that we as a board were unable to resolve the chair issue on our own. I do not, however, believe that impasse will impact the BOE’s ability to work collaboratively going forward,” Kowalski added. “As Selectperson Rabin noted, and I thank her for her kind words, I have three GPS students myself and my primary concern is providing them, and all GPS students, with the best education that Greenwich can offer.”

Before the vote, the selectmen offered brief comments on the unusual situation. The last time the selectmen had to vote for a Board of Education chair was in 2016 when Republican Peter Sherr was elected.

Earlier this week, the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee sent a newsletter to community members with the subject line titled, “Extremist Poised to Take Control of Board of Ed.”

The newsletter called Kowalski “a culture war firebrand,” and pushed back against her voting record and comments she’s made on network television about the school district.

At the bottom of the newsletter was an email address for the Selectmen Office. Residents were urged to contact the selectmen if they had concerns about Kowalski’s potential chairmanship.

Camillo said he received emails with “name calling” in recent days from community members voicing their thoughts on who should be the chair. He did not specify who sent the emails, but said, “You know who I’m talking to.”

“When you call people names, you’re diminishing your position, so cut it out. Most of the people have been great, telling me why they support Karen or Karen. That’s the way it should be, but the name-calling has to stop. It has no effect on me,” Camillo said.

Camillo said Hirsh and Kowalski were “terrific” candidates, and he acknowledged that Hirsh is a close friend.

“[She is] also somebody I look up to, who has spent almost 17 years giving her life to education and making sure people’s voices are heard. She’s never an echo for anybody,” Camillo said.

“I’m confident that [Karen Kowalski] would do the right thing, that she would be the face of the Board of Education and would advocate for the school system and for the children, but also to ask questions, not be afraid to raise questions,” Camillo added. “No one wants rubber stamps, no one wants an echo chamber, but you want people to put the best foot forward for the board and ultimately for the kids.”

Rabin also mentioned emails she has received recently and said she was “very disappointed about the character attack” on Kowalski.

“Karen is a mother of three daughters, that’s where she’s coming from. That’s her first job, is [being a] mother. I know Karen Hirsh, you’re a mother of two children. I’m a mother, I’m a grandmother, this is where we’re coming from. The character attack was just really uncalled for,” Rabin said. “I think Karen Kowalski will represent the Board of Education. I think she can separate her personal thoughts and opinions.”

McGuigan said that consistently, the community wants to keep politics out of the school system.

” I will tell you that I am an ardent supporter of Karen Hirsh to be the next chair of our Board of Education. I can assure everyone that yes, we are good friends, but my support for her couldn’t be less partisan,” she said. “My vote is really about the best interests of our Board of Education and our schools.”

Following the remarks, the board swiftly voted 2-1 in favor of Kowalski and moved on to the next agenda item.

“Hopefully we won’t have to go through this next year,” Camillo remarked.

Patch has reached out to Karen Hirsh for comment on Thursday’s vote.

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