Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees holds the charter for the OSACPS and has fiduciary responsibility, as well as the legal, ethical and moral liability for the school. The Board develops, with input from the Executive Director, Directors of Teaching and Learning and Student Support and Management Organization (OSV), policies regarding personnel, budget, vendor selection, and accounting controls. Board meetings and the activities included are consistent with the provisions of open meetings, state ethics, and charter school laws and designed to foster open, deliberate, and thorough discussions. Annual functions of the board include developing the annual budget, conducting an annual meeting to elect new members, and evaluating its own performance as the school’s governing authority Ongoing functions of the board during their monthly meetings include monitoring the school’s finances, conducting long-term financial and strategic planning, participating in fundraising, promoting OSACPS to the communities and supporting the functions of the school’s leadership team.
For meeting schedule, meeting agendas, and past minute meetings, click here.
For meeting schedule, meeting agendas, and past minute meetings, click here.
Current Members
Reed Hillman, Chair, is a graduate of Suffolk Law School, as well as a former Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, responsible for more than 2,600 law enforcement personnel and an annual budget of over $200 million. Reed served as a Massachusetts State representative from 2000-2004 and was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2006. He currently teaches criminal justice courses at Mt. Wachusett Community College in Gardner, MA.
Jasmin Rivas, Vice Chair, is the 21st Century District Coordinator for the Southbridge Public Schools. She previously served as program coordinator in Southbridge, MA for YOU Inc., one of the leading child welfare, behavioral health, and education agencies in Massachusetts. Jasmin serves as Chair of the Community Health Network Area 5 South County Connects. She received New Hope’s Edith Palmer Award for a community volunteer who has helped promote anti-violence in the community of Southbridge. Jasmin also received the Youth Empowerment Award of Aspira of Massachusetts. She holds a B.A. from Worcester State University and is bilingual in Spanish and English.
Keith Blanchette, Treasurer, is a partner in Stolberg, Ebbeling & Blanchette, LLP in Worcester, MA. Keith is a member of the Board of Trustees of Country Bank. Keith has a B.S. in Business Administration and a concentration in Accounting and Finance from Worcester State University and is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Valuation Analyst and Certified in Financial Forensics.
Pamela Boisvert, Secretary, is the founder and CEO Emerita of Mass. Education and Career Opportunities, Inc., a non-profit statewide organization providing educational access and success services to educationally/economically disadvantaged youth and adults. She is a co-founder and former president of the Massachusetts Educational Opportunity Association, the New England Educational Opportunity Association, and has been a board member of the Washington-based Council for Opportunity and Education. She has also been a member of various boards and committees for the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and American Student Assistance Corporation. Locally, Ms. Boisvert is a member of the Women’s Initiative of the United Way of Central Massachusetts and chairs its Emeritae Group, formerly chairing its Leadership Council. She is a former Board member of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and has been involved at the Board level with Worcester State University’s Latino Education Institute, Dynamy, Inc., and Girls Inc. She received a BA degree from Newton College of the Sacred Heart and a master’s degree from Worcester State University in non-profit program administration.
Vivian Brooks is a Public Affairs professional with expertise in reputation management, strategic planning, corporate and crisis communications, media relations and PR programming. She has worked across a broad sector of industries spearheading lifestyle, social, sports and cultural/philanthropic initiatives. Within the community, she has served as: an officer of Sturbridge Little League; a board member of the Tri-Community YMCA and Literacy Volunteers of America; and was President of the Tantasqua Athletic Booster Club. She is a graduate of King’s College where she studied English and Economics
Dr. Linda Denault has enjoyed a long career in education, serving in a variety of capacities (Pre-K-16), which include classroom teacher, principal, curriculum coordinator, superintendent of schools, and professor at Becker College. Linda also works as a consultant for DESE, Class Measures, and a variety of public/private schools. She holds a doctoral degree in educational research, policy, and administration from UMass-Amherst. Locally, Linda has been active in her home community of Charlton where she was a founding board member of the Dudley-Charlton Educational Foundation. She also served on the Board of Assessors for nine years and as Town Moderator for fifteen years
Dr. Louis Fazen is a physician specializing in Pediatrics and Public Health. He has extensive experience with child health in diverse communities in Worcester and Boston, as well as U.S. Public Health Service postings in numerous American Indian service areas in the Southwest. Dr. Fazen also served as chairman on the Board of Health in Southborough, MA as well as other local and statewide public health committees and administrative programs.
Amy Herman is a founding kindergarten teacher at OSA and the faculty representative to the Board of Trustees. Mrs. Herman especially enjoys the creative aspects of teaching including theater, poetry, song writing, and all expressive modalities. Mrs. Herman grew up in Connecticut and spent much of her adult life in the Southwest. Mrs. Herman received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education at Worcester State University. Mrs. Herman has taught all over central Massachusetts and written early childhood science curriculum.
James Korman is a graduate of Western New England Law School where he earned his Juris Doctorate. He also has a Master’s degree in History from Worcester State University, a Bachelor’s degree in History from Springfield College and an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Springfield Technical Community College. Jim is currently the department chair of Legal Studies, Political Science and History at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, Massachusetts where he has been a professor since 2002. Jim also maintains a criminal law trial practice in Worcester, MA. Jim is a former selectman in the town of Sturbridge from 1997-2000.
Richard McGrath is a retired insurance executive, formerly the President and Executive Director of McGrath Insurance Group, Inc., which is now part of Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage Inc. of Rhode Island. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University, and completed the Executive Leadership and Development Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School
Jessica Miller, Parent Advisory Council representative, is the Executive Director of the Ashford Housing Authority in Ashford, CT. She holds a B.S. in Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
