Woburn Candidate Profile: John Wells 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.

John Wells, 59, is running for re-election to the school committee. There are six other candidates: Luke Anderson, Patricia E. Chisholm, Colleen Cormier, Ellen Crowley, Andrew Lipsett and Charles Viola. Wells is a research scientist studying neurodegenerative diseases and has worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs for over 30 years. He has also been a college instructor at Merrimack College and a lecturer at Boston University School of Medicine. Wells and his wife Denise have three adult children.

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.facebook/DrWellsWPS

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

Making sure our school system provides every student with the opportunity to reach their full academic potential. As a School Committee member, this is my constant focus. I work to make this reality by asking pointed question about our programs to ensure they are evidence based and a wise use of the tax payers dollars.

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

My training and education have provided me with the analytical skills to evaluate the choices a school committee member must make. It has also provided me with an understanding of what our educational system needs to provide for our students to succeed. My life experiences have shaped me into a caring, concerned, citizen with common sense. Together these make me uniquely qualified to represent the citizens of Woburn.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

I have long advocated that we need to take a thorough look at our Middle Schools. After many years of pushing for this a report was just completed. The report makes many suggestions and I am ready to work with parents, teachers, the tax payers of Woburn to determine what changes we should adopt. The goal will be to strengthen our Middle Schools.

The School Committee must also decide what to do with the old Wyman School. Are we going to retain the building for school use as administrative building, rent it out to the SEEM collaborative, or turn it back to the city. I have been pushing for determination in the next six months. We have already kept the school for one year without students and it is time to unveil a plan for use or turn it back to the city.

Another issue I will be focusing on is the what does the future hold for school enrollment numbers and are our current school district plans capable of meeting the needs of our students in the future.

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

As a school committee member, I helped ensure that 5 new schools came in on time and on budget. I have also worked to increase the security of our school building, by working to fund new security systems and identification procedures. When I was chairman, I created the first Special Education Subcommittee to ensure that this important area received the focus it deserves. I have also worked to represent the citizens of Woburn by speaking out at budget time to ensure that the city's money is spent wisely.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

"Never tell anyone not to vote for you," told to me by my daughter

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

As a parent and a taxpayer, I have been very active in the community. I have been a soccer and basketball coach as well as a CCD instructor at St. Anthony's. Although all my children have graduated, my commitment to making the Woburn schools a system that gives my niece and nephew, as well as all the students, an opportunity to reach their full academic potential is still strong.

Previous candidate profiles: Woburn Candidate Profile: Colleen Cormier For School Committee

Christopher Huffaker: 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.