SOUTH HADLEY — The School Committee is searching for a new member to serve until April 2025 after former member Lynda Pickbourn resigned at the beginning of March.

In a letter to the board, Pickbourn said she needed to immediately resign for reasons related to the health and well-being of her family. The remainder of the letter acknowledges the hard work of the committee, and her hopes for the future of education.

“The administrators, the faculty and the staff at South Hadley School District are invested in our students, and are doing their best even in the face of funding challenges,” she said. “I reserve my greatest gratitude for our young people, the students in South Hadley and beyond, who make this work worthwhile.”

Pickbourn was appointed to the board in January 2022 to finish the term of a previous member, and then ran for another three-year term in April of 2023. She served on several subcommittees, including the budget subcommittee, negotiations subcommittee and Joint Labor Management Committee.

While on the latter committee, Pickbourn said she witnessed faculty and administrators collaborate to find solutions for student-focused issues. During her time on the negotiations committee, Pickbourn helped negotiate a new contract with the Custodial Worker Union.

“This is a reminder of the often invisible labor that the district’s custodial workers do to ensure the schools are safe for our students,” Pickbourn wrote.

Residents interested in applying for the open position can email a letter of interest to Kristin Maher. Applications will close at 4:30 p.m. on April 25. Applicants will be interviewed and chosen by the Select Board.

Staff Writer Emilee Klein can be reached at eklein@gazettenet.com.