A Rutland school board member has resigned, one month after the city’s attorney deemed her ineligible to serve after she reportedly moved to a nearby town.
“I am saddened to announce that today I officially stepped down from the Rutland City School Board effectively immediately,” member Heather Hauke posted on social media Monday night.
Hauke, owner of Intrinsic Property Services and mother of four school-age children, was elected to a three-year term on the 11-member board in 2023 and was set to be up for reelection in 2026.
Then a month ago, City Attorney Megan LaChance wrote Hauke that, “having completed due diligence and upon reasonable belief,” officials had determined the board member now lived in Mendon, according to a letter dated Dec. 24, 2024.
“Despite not residing in the city, you are registered to vote in the city and currently sit on the Rutland City School Board,” LaChance wrote. To avoid a “public spectacle,” the lawyer continued, “the city respectfully requests you to voluntarily correct your voter registration and to resign from the school board.”
Hauke, who participated in board meetings this month, initially told VTDigger that the situation was a “misunderstanding,” although she wouldn’t answer questions about where she was living, noting, “That’s all I’m going to say.”
But shortly before Rutland City Hall closed Monday, Hauke tendered her resignation, City Clerk Tracy Kapusta said.
Hauke went on to post on social media: “After a clerical error by our accountant I have been facing harassment and bullying to push me to resign. I am not one to usually step down from anything, however at the end of the day my family is my number one priority.”
Hauke did not immediately reply to a reporter’s call for comment Tuesday morning.
The one-year remainder of Hauke’s term will be up for election on the March 4 ballot, which has no announced candidates and will be open to write-ins, the city clerk said.
Six people are set to seek four three-year seats, including incumbents Sara Atkins-Doenges, Karen Bossi and Marybeth Lennox-Levins and Courtney Whitcomb and newcomers Christina Sweet and Lauren Weiss, the clerk added.
This story has been updated to add the name of Courtney Whitcomb to the list of incumbents running for reelection.
