Coram Will Fill Open Seat On School Committee

READING - Geoffrey Coram was selected Wednesday night to fill the temporary seat on the Reading School Committee. Coram was one of three candidates seeking to fill the seat that was vacated when Sherri VandenAkker stepped down last month. Gina Healy and Thomas Wise were also candidates.

Coram was the first to speak in the Reading Memorial High School library before a joint meeting of the School Committee and Select Board. He was followed by Healy and Wise.

Coram, who has two children attending RMHS, is a past Budget Parent, the Yes For Reading treasurer, past Coolidge PTO treasurer, as well as current treasurer of the RMHS PTO. He has been a fixture at School Committee meetings and current member Nick Boivin praised Coram, calling him "a familiar presence at School Committee meetings ... you've made great points when you've chosen to speak publicly."

But at first glance it appeared Coram's familiar face wouldn't be enough to overcome the resumes of Healy and Wise. Healy was a past RMHS teacher, and a former principal and assistant superintendent. She has more experience in education than most in the room. Wise was the only one of the three running for a permanent seat on the School Committee in the April 2 election. He has two children at Parker and was a former member of the Joshua Eaton Task Force. Wise had lengthy introductory remarks. Both he and Healy gave a concluding statement while Coram declined.

But after candidate statements as well as questions from the committee, it became clear the committee was divided about appointing someone who was running for a permanent seat. Some felt it was wrong to give Wise a head start. Others, especially Dan Ensminger, took exception to punishing Wise for participating in basic democracy. But the divide meant Wise was unofficially out, which left it between Coram and Healy. Coram was up first for vote and when Vanessa Alvarado, Linda Snow Dockser, Andy Friedmann, Elaine Webb, Barry Berman, and Jeane Borawski said yes, Coram was in.

For Coram, the job won't involve much heavy lifting. The School Committee has already voted on its budget so Coram will join them when the budget is presented to the Finance Committee on Feb. 27. Then he'll sit in on one meeting, March 28, before the town elections April 2.

Photo by Bob Holmes