Chairman Leo Lamontage, at center in red, stands with his family after he was honored for spending 38 years — including 34 as chairman — on the Greater Lawrence Technical School Committee. (Courtesy Greater Lawrence Technical School) 
Chairman Lamontagne’s nameplate rests near a copy of Roberts Rules of Order before the School Committee meeting at which he was recognized on Tuesday night. (Courtesy Greater Lawrence Technical School) 
Chairman Lamontagne holds a gavel and plaque that students created for him that was a gift from Superintendent John Lavoie. (Courtesy Greater Lawrence Technical School) 
Chairman Lamontagne addresses those in attendance after he was recognized on Tuesday evening. (Courtesy Greater Lawrence Technical School)
ANDOVER – Superintendent John Lavoie is pleased to announce that Greater Lawrence Technical School held a special ceremony to recognize School Committee Chairman Leo Lamontagne for 38 years of service on Tuesday night before the board’s regularly scheduled meeting.
Lamontagne is retiring from his position on the board effective in January, and he was honored prior to the start of his final meeting on Tuesday night.
Lamontagne took his oath of office in January of 1986, and has continued to serve on the school committee ever since, attending not just hundreds of meetings, but also thousands of school events, graduations, national honor society inductions, sporting events, building committee meetings and more.
Lawrence City Council President Marc Laplante said Lamontagne is the longest serving elected official in Lawrence history.
Lamontagne was recognized by school committee members, Lawrence’s statehouse delegation, and members of the Lawrence City Council, among others, with Culinary students providing food at the event, which also featured table centerpieces crafted by GLTS Horticulture students.
“Leo has had such a huge impact on GLTS for the last 38 years that you can’t really measure it in words, but you can look at GLTS, you can look at its history, and you can look at the changes that have happened,” said Superintendent John Lavoie. “We have always continued to move in a progressive way so students could get the best education possible.”
“There is no person I know of who has more integrity than Leo Lamontagne,” Lavoie continued. “In doing this job and doing his best for the students in this school and the community, he was truly invested here in GLTS and helped us have the best impact we possibly could on our community.”
Lamontagne was presented with citations from both the Massachusetts House of Representative and Senate, with Rep. Frank Moran and Sen. Pavel Payano both offering words of recognition. Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena also presented Lamontagne with a citation from the City of Lawrence.
“You helped shape the lives, and transform the lives, of so many kids in this school,” said Rep. Moran, himself a GLTS graduate. “The school back in 1986 and what it is today is like night and day. You transformed the school, you transformed the lives of kids, and that is a credit to you.”
“Leo spent 38 years walking the walk, and you all know what that term implies,” said School Committee Member Marilyn Fitzgerald. “He never had any agenda other than bettering the lives and education of the students and families that he represented. He has been a steadfast beacon of stability and purpose, and he never sought the limelight, instead always giving credit to others.”
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