MASSENA -- A Massena Central School board of education member has announced her resignation.

Susan Lambert, who was elected to the board in 2022, filed her resignation recently citing personal reasons.

With Lambert's resignation, board members immediately sought to fill the seat with former board member Timothy Hayes.

Lambert previously served the district as director of special education from 2000 until she retired in June 2022.

Hayes formerly sat on the board, winning election by a wide margin in 2021, however he was forced to resign in April 2023 due to family health matters, he previously said.

Hayes is a familiar face within the district, having served the district as athletic director until her retirement following the conclusion of the 2015-16 school year.

The news of Lambert's retirement prompted board members to appoint Hayes, with Vice President Kevin Perretta saying the board was going to move on the vacancy immediately.

Perretta broke the news of Lambert's resignation during a recent meeting, thanking Lambert for her contributions and service to the board.

Board members had met to discuss options to fill the seat, he said.

“We’re going to ask for Tim Hayes. He would like to serve out the rest of that term, and Tim has agreed to do that,” Perretta said.

Perretta said Hayes "has a good bit of experience" and will be a "good transition" for the board when he comes on board Sept. 19.

Hayes' return was met with enthusiasm from the board, who approved his appointment unanimously.

He will remain in the seat until the next school board election in May. The third-place vote getter in that election will fill the remainder of Lambert's term, which is set to expire in 2027.

“So, I want to thank Susan again for the time she served. Bringing on a superintendent is one of the biggest jobs you’ll have to do as a board member," Perretta said.

Lambert was on the board of education when the district completed a search for a new superintendent following the announcement that former Superintendent Pat Brady was retiring.

The district hired Ron Burke to replace the outgoing Brady last summer.