With a "heavy heart," one-term Belmont School Committee member Rebecca "Becky" Vose announced at last night's, Tuesday, Jan. 11, committee meeting that she would not seek re-election.

Saying she has "pressing professional commitments" as a clinic lawyer at Boston College Law School, Vose said she could not give the required time to the committee necessary to make a contribution. 

"I have served under three chairs and have seen several comings and goings," said Vose, "and the constitution of the committee now is very strong as each member provides important talents to the job asked by the community," said Vose.

She later told Belmont Patch that her decision was made easier knowing that "(Belmont) now has a strong school committee."

Vose also encouraged anyone interested in school issues "to run (for my seat) because this is a body you want to be with."

"It's good to have contested races to flush out ideas," she said.

Vose's decision opens one of two school committee seats to be contested in April's town election. Anne Lougee has taken out nomination papers to fill a full-term after being appointed to fill a vacancy in October. 

In addition to the two seats up for grabs this Spring, the committee could find itself needing to fill another position if current member Dan Scharfman wins his race to become a member of the Board of Selectmen.