Woburn Candidate Profile: Charles Viola For School Committee

WOBURN, MA — Woburn will have several contested races in November's election, including a seven-way race for five school committee seats. Woburn Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Charles Viola, 34, is running for one of five open seats on the school committee. There are six other candidates: Luke Anderson, Patricia E. Chisholm, Colleen Cormier, Ellen Crowley, Andrew Lipsett and John Wells. Viola is a correctional officer with the Middlesex Sheriff's Office.

Are you running for office in Woburn? Contact Chris Huffaker at chris.huffaker@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Woburn Patch.

Previously on Patch: School Committee Candidate Forum: Contenders Tout Resumes

Woburn Preliminary Election: Galvin, Pedrini Advance

Campaign Website: www.CharlesViola.com

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The biggest challenge facing Woburn Public Schools is multifaceted. (1) The school budget needs to be increased to match surrounding cities and towns. (2) When a teacher retires that job should not be lost to attrition, which can contribute to larger class sizes. (3) There needs to be more focus on art and music in the elementary school level. There should be an art and music teacher at every school so that children are not receiving these subjects every two weeks. (4) There needs to be a compromise with the Woburn Teachers Association to contractually reduce class sizes.

If elected, my top priority will be to always put the students first. I will work hard to ensure that our children receive one of the best educations in Massachusetts – because children are our future, and I would like to make it a Bright Future. I cannot give one top priority as all of the biggest challenges facing Woburn Public Schools are intertwined and are dependent upon on one another.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am a lifelong Woburnite, with an established track record of successfully investing personal time, energy, and enthusiasm on projects that enhance the quality of life for Woburn’s families. I am a product of the Reeves Elementary School on the West Side/Ward 7, and the Joyce Middle School. I know this City is the perfect place to live, work, and raise a family. I graduated from Middlesex Community College with a degree in criminal justice, and have worked for the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office for over 13 years as a correctional officer, mentoring young adults in life skills, as well as leading by example.

As a School Committee member, I will bring an energetic, enthusiastic, selfless, independent, and unique perspective to the Woburn School Committee, and I will always put the students first. I will work hard to ensure that our children receive one of the best educations in Massachusetts – because children are our future, and I would like to make it a bright future. I feel that a great School Committee member is a person who can work well with others, sharing a common goal, providing the children of Woburn the best education possible - which are all qualities I possess.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board failed the community?

Woburn has failed the needs of students seeking a vocational education. Even though Woburn belongs to the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School District, some students seek a vocation that is not offered at this school and seek to attend Minuteman Regional High School. I have heard from numerous families that their child’s request to attend Minuteman has been denied. Funding never should be an issue to deny a child from receiving a quality education. We as a community only get one chance to get a child’s education right. I will advocate for Woburn to become a member of the Minuteman School District to allow for students to receive the best vocational education possible.

One innovative way to better our education system is through Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). STEM educational programs are instrumental in helping shape the young minds and prepare them for entrance into the best colleges and universities. As a School Committee member, I will reach out to higher education institutions to leverage their outreach programs and bring their expertise to our city – building long lasting relationships that will benefit the city long term for generations to come.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

- Increase the support for students in special education
- Request and define a more realistic budget
- Promote parity between all schools and increase the diversity of staff to better represent the student population while ensuring that every child receives the same quality education
- Request a safety and security audit of all Woburn Public School buildings
- Strive for more transparency between the district and the community
- Implement a revolving account to offset and cover special education costs
- Advocate for a school department grant writer to look for additional federal and state funding

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

From 2006 until 2010 I served as the chairman of the Woburn Water Advisory Committee. This committee was formulated at a time when Woburn was having major problems with the quality and delivery of water to its residents. As a result of the hard work of this committee we were able to secure a large bond for water improvements, (new Rag Rock water tank, new filtration plant, Dix Road pumping station, Shaker Glenn pumping station and the relining and replacement of miles of pipe) throughout the entire city which directly improved resident’s quality of life.

I also was the originator of Woburn’s first Reverse 911 system which was used to notify residents of issues which were occurring throughout the city. I am no stranger to city politics as I have run previously for Alderman of Ward 7 and School Committee.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

From a young age I was always told by my parents, “Get a good education, give back to your community, and help those who are less fortunate than you are.”

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Woburn residents should vote for me because the City of Woburn needs a fresh and independent perspective on innovative ways to better our educational system. Children’s education is our future and we, the residents of Woburn, want to make sure that they have the very best possible, the best teachers, and the best staff. A child must learn in a nurturing and inclusive environment, and not one that is out of date or that has overcrowded classrooms.

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. When elected I will work with the Woburn Public School system to provide training for teachers and staff on how to identify children who are being bullied and helping them with presence and verbalization skills. These are skills that are widely used in different aspects of the law enforcement community to stop situations from occurring, and I believe that the Woburn community would benefit from this type of training for teachers and school staff.

Often overlooked, teachers are the backbone of a great educational system. Exceptional teachers need to be commended more often. We need to ensure that teachers obtain fair and reasonable contracts. My mother worked for a major city school system for 35 years, was a member of the largest school unions in the state, Massachusetts Teachers Association, and worked for the special education department. As a kid I have seen how much effort my mother put into making sure that each and every special ed student had the right to quality education. Therefore, I know firsthand how hard our teachers, paraprofessionals, and office staff work on a daily basis.

They often pay out of pocket to provide needed school supplies for students, and dedicate their personal time to find and gather resources for ensuring their students future success.

I look forward to speaking with you throughout this campaign, lending an open ear to your comments, concerns, and ideas about the Woburn Public School System – and I offer the promise of taking all your comments to heart and addressing your concerns in a professional manner. I have walked and will continue to walk the neighborhoods in order to hear your concerns, and I understand the challenges our School District faces. I will work hard on building long lasting relationships with the community and delivering student and parent driven results to meet your expectations.

On Tuesday, November 5, I ask that you vote for me, Charles Viola for School Committee.

Previous campaign profiles: Woburn Candidate Profile: Andrew Lipsett For School Committee

Woburn Candidate Profile: John Wells For School Committee

Woburn Candidate Profile: Colleen Cormier For School Committee