School Committee Candidate Forum: Contenders Tout Resumes

WOBURN, MA — At Wednesday night's school committee candidate forum, without strong differences of opinion to separate them, the contenders tried to stand out instead by drawing on their backgrounds. While there was some disagreement on specific issues, they weren't the focus: instead, the candidates attempted to establish their Woburnite bonafides, and argued that their careers or life stories made them particularly suited for the gig. Even one of the two candidates who wasn't present made sure his perspective shone through, in the statement the moderator read on his behalf.

Elissa Milto, president of the Woburn Special Education Parent Advisory Council, which hosted the forum, introduced the event by saying that often voters don't really know who their school committee candidates are, so they wanted to provide some basic introductions. The seven candidates are vying for five school committee seats in the Nov. 5 election. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 16.

You can watch the entire forum on Youtube, courtesy of Woburn Public Media Center.

Resumes were not the only differentiators — for example, there were a range of answers to a question about test scores. Colleen Cormier and Ellen Crowley thought the district can match the results of neighboring areas, John Wells and Pat Chisholm dismissed the idea of getting level with Lexington, and Andrew Lipsett used the question as a jumping off point to critique high-stakes testing

But on most issues there was broad agreement. Candidates agreed, the district should try hard to make sure basic needs of low income students are met. Should there be more diverse faculty and staff? Yes, we need to make it a priority, they said. Should the school committee advocate for the school budget? Yes. Should the district make sure information about school events is available in translation for parents? Yes.

Instead, a personal experience standard was set from the very first introductory statement: Longtime committee member Pat Chisholm touted her nearly two decades of perfect meeting attendance, and her family's extensive involvement in the district: her children went to Woburn Public Schools, and now her grandchildren do too.

What about her personal experience made her a good candidate? "Being a mom. I've been there, done that."

Further down the line, Ellen Crowley, another incumbent, spoke of her experience as a special education advocacy lawyer -- and traced her Woburnite family tree the other direction, to her great-grandmother.

"Every decision I make is always guided by that advocacy for children," Crowley said.

And the third incumbent, Joseph Wells, pointed to his experience as a research scientist, which he said gives him a data-based approach on the committee, and his experience as the parent of a child (now young adult) with a disability.

"I know the frustration of trying to get the best services for your son or daughter," Wells said.

Non-incumbent Colleen Cormier said her experience is both personal and professional. She's a nurse at a juvenile detention facility and a public health graduate student, but she also grew up with a brother with special needs, she explained.

"Integration of health and wellness with education can improve learning," said Cormier.

And Andrew Lipsett, another non-incumbent, had probably the most direct link from his work to his candidacy, as a Billerica public school teacher. He said he does what he can for his students individually, but wants to be able to make an impact at a community level.

"I see the successes of public education, and also the challenges."

Even Charles Viola, who could not attend the meeting, got an experience plug in. Viola touted his work at the Middlesex Sheriff's office in the statement read for him by moderator Adam Chapman.

"As a member of the Law Enforcement Community I wish to bring my unique perspective and expertise on safety and security to the School Committee as well – not only physical safety, but also environmental safety," said Viola.

The 7th candidate, Luke Anderson, was expected to attend, so he did not have a statement read on his behalf.

The candidates laid out different priorities, in response to a question about what topic candidates thought "needs the most attention" based on meetings they've attended over the past year.

Cormier questioned why some 50 students appeared to have enrolled late this year.

Wells said the middle schools are a "weak link" in the district, and that the district needs to focus on addressing inequity between middle schools.

Crowley brought two priorities: increasing staffing and services for English language learners, and increasing mental health services.

Crowley also repeatedly returned to an idea she had to create a "no child eats alone" program to "encourage friendships for children across all abilities and backgrounds."

And both Lipsett and Chisholm pointed to the budget, for different reasons. Chisholm said "the budget is always an issue," while Lipsett praised Superintendent Crowley's comprehensive plan, and said the committee needs to make sure he has the funds and staffing to carry it out.

Lipsett returned repeatedly to staffing. In response to a question about potential redistricting to reduce class sizes, he argued that inadequate staffing is the bigger cause of large classes.

Only Chisholm said there was an immediate need for redistricting, although all five said it was something to keep an eye on.

Candidates were also asked about the top concerns of parents and guardians of students with disabilities.

Cormier: "Inclusion, safety, and individualization."

Crowley: "Communication and safety, including emotional safety."

Chisholm: "That their needs are met."

Lipsett: "That their children matter more than the bottom line."

Wells: "The concerns of parents of children with special needs are no different from parents of other children ... They want the best for their children."

"We appreciate the candidates' participation," said Milto. "We hope the forum gave the public a basic understanding each candidate's experience and ideas, and that this helps them make an informed choice when they vote in November."