A special joint meeting of the Northampton City Council and the Northampton School Committee on Jan. 13, 2025, appointed Anat Weisenfreund to fill the Ward 2 vacancy on the School Committee. The meeting was called under Section 46 of the city charter; the body conducted a nomination period, a roll-call vote and a swearing-in that evening.

Section 46 of the City Charter requires the city council president to call a joint meeting to fill a school committee vacancy and instructs that the appointee serve until a candidate is elected at the next regular city election. Council President Alex Jared read the charter provision at the meeting.

Weisenfreund and Angela Wack were the two applicants for the interim Ward 2 seat; each gave introductory remarks and answered questions from councilors and school committee members. Angela Wack, a more recent Northampton resident, described leadership roles on a PTA in Alachua County, Fla., and said she would focus on bringing families back to Northampton Public Schools, rebuilding athletics and pursuing funding. "I am eager to bring my experience, passion, and dedication to the Northampton School Committee," Wack said during her remarks. Anat Weisenfreund, who participated by Zoom, described more than 30 years working with very young and vulnerable children and families, and said she currently directs Community Action's Head Start program, serving about 400 children a year, supervising about 130 staff and managing a $12,000,000 budget. "I would be honored to lend my experience and skills in service of our city's children, families, and educators," Weisenfreund said.

After 10-minute question rounds for each candidate, Councilor Clemmer nominated Weisenfreund and Member Hennessy nominated Wack. Elected officials discussed the candidates' relevant experience for the short-term appointment; several members said budget and staffing expertise weighed heavily in their deliberations because the appointee is expected to join the budget and property subcommittee for the remainder of the predecessor's term.

A roll-call vote followed. The meeting record shows a majority for Anat Weisenfreund; the presiding officer announced that Weisenfreund had received a majority and would be sworn in. The stated tally was 14 votes for Anat Weisenfreund, 2 votes for Angela Wack and 1 abstention. Councilor Perry recorded a vote for Angela Wack; Councilor Quaverly Rothenberg recorded an abstention. City Clerk Pamela Powers administered the oath and Weisenfreund was sworn in as the Ward 2 member that night.

The appointment is interim: under the city charter the appointee will serve only until a candidate is elected to the office at the next regular city election and is sworn into office. During the meeting several members said they intended to assign the new member to the budget and property subcommittee; Mayor Sherra and others noted Weisenfreund's budget and large-staff experience as relevant to that assignment.

Votes at a glance: Anat Weisenfreund — appointed (roll-call tally announced as 14 yes); Angela Wack — 2 yes; Abstentions — 1. Pamela Powers administered the oath immediately following the vote. No ordinance, statute or budget item was adopted as part of the appointment action.

The joint meeting began with the reading of Section 46 of the City Charter and concluded after the swearing-in and a brief administrative roll call to confirm attendance.