The newest appointment to the Brownstown Central Community School Corporation board of trustees will have some big shoes to fill at the next board meeting.

On Monday evening, the board met to confirm Brownstown Township’s recommendation to appoint Paul Borden to fill out the four-year term of Dan Hall, who passed away Oct. 25 after a long battle with cancer.

At least one school board member was impressed with the idea of Borden joining the 7-member board.

“I can attest that Paul is a generous individual that genuinely cares about kids in this community, and I believe that he will be a valuable addition to this board,” board president Scott Shade said.

While Borden is a 1991 graduate of Seymour High School, his three kids, Cole, Seth and Kalee, all attended Brownstown schools over 19 years. Borden and his wife, Lee Ann, enrolled their oldest son, Cole, who is now 23, in Brownstown schools when he was four.

“We started him out in Brownstown schools and have always felt that we made the right move in doing so,” he said.

Borden said that he decided to move to Brownstown because of the school corporation.

He said that he was looking for “a little bit smaller school environment” and believes that students benefit from a smaller school system.

“The students get a lot more one-on-one type treatment,” Borden said. “Everyone knows each other.”

He said he first wanted to join the school board six or eight years ago, but that interest died down over time.

When Hall’s spot opened up, Brownstown Township board chairman, Conner Barnette, reached out to Borden about the opportunity, and Borden said he was excited to fulfill it.

“It’s a great opportunity to give back a little bit and help the school,” Borden said.

Of his future duties on the school board, Borden said, “I think it’s going to be best for me to kind of listen to all of the items on the table right now and step in slowly and just try to be a part of the group the best I can.”

Hall served on the board for 20 years and will be greatly missed, Shade said.

Hall’s term will expire June 30. At that time, the township board can choose to reappoint Borden or pick another person, Barnette said Tuesday afternoon.