ATHOL – Eric Jack has a busy life, and if his latest endeavor is successful, it will get even busier.
Jack, captain in the Athol Fire Department and chief of the Royalston Fire Department, is one of four candidates to fill two open seats on the Athol Royalston Regional School Committee.
A lifelong resident of Athol, Jack signed up with the National Guard after graduating from Athol High School in 1995 and later became a “charter member” of Athol’s ambulance service. After serving eight years as a call firefighter, Jack was hired on full-time in 2005 and went to paramedic school in order to qualify for the position. Last year, he completed the fire prevention program at the state Fire Academy. That led to his being named fire prevention officer in November of last year.
In addition, he recently received an associate degree in fire science from Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner.
Asked about his decision to run for School Committee, Jack said, “Actually, my grandfather was on the School Committee when I was a kid. I’ve always had an interest in being on the committee since my grandfather was on.”
Part of his motivation for running, he said, was to make sure voters had candidates to fill the two Athol committee seats being vacated by Lee Chauvette and Mitch Grosky.
“When I took out (nomination) papers, there was only one other candidate at that time,” he said. “It didn’t seem like there was a lot of interest from the public. I’m familiar through my jobs with the schools in both Athol and Royalston, I’m very familiar with the facilities and thought I could a little bit to the committee – especially with all the experience that’s leaving the committee, between Nancy and Mitch and Lee. There’s a lot of experience leaving the board there.”
In addition to Chauvette and Grosky, Royalston representative Nancy Melbourne has decided not to seek reelection.
Jack said there are no specific issues motivating him to run.
“I feel like he’s (the superintendent) very, very motivated to help move the district forward and I hope, obviously, to assist him with that,” he said. “I think the superintendent has a good plan, as well as the committee, and I don’t have anything specific I’d like to start or change, personally. I think we’re heading in the right direction. I feel like I want to continue to move the schools in a positive direction and support the students and the staff.”
Jack said he has a son attending Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School and a daughter in seventh grade at Athol Royalston Middle School. Concerning his possible election to the committee, Jack said his family “is supportive, as they always are. It’s obviously going to take some time. It’s not a huge commitment, but it certainly is a commitment.”
In addition to Jack, Athol candidates for school committee include Emily White, Frank Visco II, and Charles Larkin. The annual town election will be held Monday, April 3. Polls at Athol Town Hall will be open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.