FITCHBURG -- The newest member of the School Committee is Elizabeth Rahmberg-Walsh, a behavioral-science professor in Fitchburg State University's criminal-justice program.

At a joint meeting of the School Committee and City Council on Tuesday night, Rahmberg-Walsh was appointed by a 14-3 vote.

Rahmberg-Walsh, a Boutelle Street resident, was one of two candidates who submitted their names for the appointment. The other is longtime Fitchburg resident Kelly Johnson, a Charles Street resident.

The position became open in January when School Committee member Nick Carbone resigned because he had moved out of the city.

Rahmberg-Walsh was at a criminal-justice science conference Tuesday night and was not able to attend the meeting, but prepared a video presentation that was played on her behalf. In the video, she said she is concerned about students graduating from high school unprepared for college.

"We cannot wait until students are in high school to begin those lessons," she said.

Rahmberg-Walsh also serves as co-director of FSU's dating-violence prevention program.

Johnson said she was not necessarily the best candidate for the position, but submitted her name for consideration to give the voting members a choice.

Johnson has a son in middle school who went through South Street Elementary, but she has since moved him to a private school. She said she did so because of concerns of him being bullied while walking to the middle school, and identified bullying as the top issue she wished to focus on.

The three members who voted for Johnson are City Councilor Joel Kaddy, School Committee member Pete Stephens and Mayor Lisa Wong, who chairs the School Committee.

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Rahmberg-Walsh joins school board