Q&A With Westford's Next School Committee Member:Terence Ryan

For those driving around Westford's main roads, it might be difficult to discern that there's actually an election coming up on May 1 due to the fact that there are almost no signs out on lawns.

Don't tell that to Terence Ryan though. A newcomer to Westford politics, he's the third candidate for three slots for the School Committee election on Tuesday and he's been making his name visible across town.

On the Friday before the election, Westford Patch sat down with what, excluding an unprecedented write-in campaign, will be the next member of the Westford School Committee for a one-on-one interview....

Westford Patch: You've already technically won... Why all the signs?

Terence Ryan: I want to get my name out there. There are people who probably say, "Who's Ryan?" or "There's a School Committee race?," so this is just a way for me to get my name out there, and it's my little way letting them know that there's an election coming out.

I put out 40 signs across town, and I think it helps myself and other candidates running.

WP: So it's mainly trying to promote democracy in Westford?

TR: Yeah, trying to get people out to vote and trying to show "Hey, that Ryan's working hard."

WP: Any hopes of being the top vote getter?

TR: I'm not trying to be the top vote getter, I don't think that's important right now. I'm a first time candidate, and I'm trying to get some name recognition.

WP: What else have you done in the community?

TR: I've been a soccer coach for my children, as well as a t-ball coach and baseball coach, assistant coach, mainly kids' activities. I've volunteered in the schools, but that's primarily it. We've lived her nine years in July, and as far as community activitism goes, it's mainly been geared toward the kids.

WP: and this year is shaping up to look the same. Do you think that's indicative of something larger in town?

TR: Folks are really busy, I'm surprised there aren't more candidates running for the different seats, and that's too bad. It'd be nice to see all the races contested to see a little bit more conversation on the issues.

But, it's tough. It takes time and alot of people don't have the time to put into these things. Some people like to coach or volunteer for other things in town, like town committees, and this is what I'd like to do to volunteer.

WP: Have you been talking with other School Committee members to prepare?

TR: I haven't specifically talked to anyone, I go to meetings and see Westford Patch there, I go and I listen, I look at alot of documentation that's available.

I think the main thing going on right now is financial in terms of the teachers' contract, and you don't need to talk to anybody to know that those issues, in terms of resolving the teachers' issue and working with the rest of the town, are our main two drivers.

WP: What are your thoughts on the teachers' contract negotiations? Do you believe that the School Committee has been fair, or do you side more with the teachers?

TR: I don't think it's a matter of being "fair" or agreeing with somebody, it has to be resolved for the good of the children and the good of the community. We have to come to a resolution on the contract.

I'm not going to favor one group or the other, I think both sides are working very hard, we're just not there yet. Many communities are in the same situation, so it's not unique to Westford, we'll just have to keep working at it.

WP: From your travels on the campaign trail putting up those 40 signs, what have you been hearing from people in town in their thoughts about the future of schools in Westford?

TR: What I hear from people is that they moved here for Westford schools, the schools are a big part of the community. As a committee, we're really going to have to roll up our sleeves to find out what we can do fiscally to maintain the excellence of our schools.

I think there's going to be alot of give and take between the schools and the town, and we're just going to need to work together to resolve the issues and work together one year at a time.

Eventually I'd like to see something longer, like a five year plan, but it's we really have to resolve the problems we have now.

WP: You have a child at the , do you believe things like the incident with the phone call that went out to all parents on Friday morning have a longterm significant impact on how the School Department deals with parents, and how would you react to an incident like this as a School Committee member?

TR: Well, it was a technical glitch. I guess that may happen, once it's known to happen, the town and the schools have to do whatever they can to get the word out as soon as they can.

That means putting someone outside to meet parents as they're driving up to the schools, put it right on the radio, e-mail messages, reverse 911, doing anything to notify as many parents as we can to indicate that their child is safe and in school.

Parents in this day in age want to know that their child is safe in school. I got that call when I was working at home, and my cell phone, my house phone, my wife's phone wrang; it scares you, so whatever the schools and town can do to get the word out as fast as they can, they should do. I don't know what more you can do after that.

WP: Recently, many parents have expressed concern about alleged drug use and possession at . What are your thoughts and what have you been hearing on that subject?

TR: I haven’t been hearing anything about it, I don’t know much about it. I saw something on Westford Patch that there’s an event on , but I don’t think I’ll make it to that due to the election (which is on Tuesday.)

I would like to know what’s going on, I really don’t have any firsthand knowledge. It really will be interesting to learn more as I join the committee.

More information on Ryan's campaign is available at www.theryancommittee.com