By MATT LINDSEY

North Country Now

NORWOOD — The Norwood-Norfolk Central School Board of Education will likely name a new president at its Dec. 18 meeting following the passing of its president, Jon Hazen.

It is expected that school board vice president Jon Hunkins will be voted in as president, according to NNCS Superintendent Jamie Cruikshank.

The board would then look to fill the vice president’s seat with a fellow board member. The other board members are James Dillon, Matthew Fiacco, Suzanne Fiacco, Lisa Levinson, Stephen Markum, Jane Peacock and Mary Ellen Todd.

There will still be a board seat open and the BoE must then decide how to fill the position.

Cruikshank said there are a couple of options.

The board could simply appoint someone who has experience to fill the remaining time of Hazen’s term. Or, they could hold a vote.

“That comes with a cost and time,” Cruikshank said.

He said the school board will likely be reaching out to potential candidates.

For now, Hunkins is assuming the role of president until the board meeting in mid-December.

“Jon’s loss is not just for the school, but the community,” Cruikshank said. “He was a mentor to hundreds and maybe even thousands in the community — he was a mentor to myself.”

Cruikshank expressed his sympathy to the Hazen family.

“He was the genuine article,” Cruikshank said.

Hazen died Nov. 20. He started serving on the board in July 2010. He was vice president for 2011-2012 and then president from July 2012 until his passing.