Carfora Appoints New Board Of Education Member

EAST HAVEN, CT —Mayor Joseph A. Carfora appointed Tom Murtagh to the East Haven Board of Education. Carfora said he made his selection "after a great deal of reflection on the mission of the Board of Education, the future of our schools, and the ongoing challenge that COVID-19 has imposed on our education system."

In September, board of education member Liz Esposito, a Democrat, left her post moving out of East Haven following the sale of her home, it was reported.

In a media release, Carfora said Murtagh brings "vast experience he has also faced the challenges of COVID through his experience in the medical field."

Murtagh, a decades-long radiation therapist, works at the Yale Smilow Cancer Center.

"Tom also brings the special perspective of a parent whose children who went through theEast Haven School system," Carfora said.

An adjunct professor at Gateway Community College, Murtagh met with schools superintendent Erica Forti and other current education board members, "as part of the decision-making process," Carfora said.

"He'll be a welcome addition to the BOE," Carfora said.

Born and raised in Meriden, Murtagh and his wife of 21 years, Claudia, moved to East Haven in 2004. The couple's twins received their K-12 education in the East Haven school system, Carfora said.

This article originally appeared on the East Haven Patch