Citywide PTO Holds Candidate Forum Wednesday Night
Story Updated 11:18PM Wednesday, October 10, 2007
– Allison Goldsberry
Ten candidates vying for six seats on the Medford School Committee squared off Wednesday evening at the second candidate forum organized by the Citywide PTO Alliance.
The candidates fielded questions submitted ahead of time by parents, and topics ranged from the role of the School Committee to bus behavior to attracting teachers that reflect Medford’s diversity.
Each question was randomly posed to two candidates at a time, and it was challenger candidates Bill O’Keefe and Bruce Kulik who were asked about the role of the School Committee and what parents might like it to do but in reality it has no authority.
Role of the School Committee
O’Keefe said the Committee needs to act on the reports issued by the state Department of Education and that he would like to see public input on plans to address issues raised in the reports.
Kulik said the Committee should be more assertive with one of its main duties, policy-making, and needs to do a better job in making sure its policies are enforced. As far as other duties go, Kulik said the Committee is not able to “get rid of†certain teachers, help with student placements, or change grades.
Busing
On busing, School Committee member Lena DiGiantommaso, running for re-election, said she has always pushed for Medford to keep busing in the budget while other communities have stopped paying for it and have imposed fees on students for the service. According to DiGiantommaso, busing eats up more than $700,000 of the total budget.
School Committee member Paulette Van der Kloot, also running for re-election, said busing is a necessity that she would never vote to cut. Van der Kloot urged parents to report any bus behavior problems and said the School Committee has worked with school principals to establish consistent rules and discipline guidelines to handle problems.
Attracting More Diverse Staff
School Committee veterans Fred Pompeo and Bill Brady were asked how Medford can attract more teachers that reflect the city’s diversity.
Pompeo said the Superintendent already makes an “energetic effort†in advertising openings to diverse applicants and that the schools should continue to advertise extensively and should get parents involved in the selection process.
Brady mentioned the job fair that the schools hold each year to attract diverse applicants and said one school principal and a number of teachers come from diverse backgrounds.
Dealing with a Lack of Funding
One recurring theme in nearly all the questions was ever-shrinking state aid, forcing schools to do more with less and grapple with salvaging important extras such as sports, art, and music in the midst of mandatory testing.
“They [state and federal government] keep on mandating but we need the funding that goes along with it,†said School Committee member Ann Marie Cugno, running for her second term.
Cugno said parents and School Committee members need to push legislators for more school funding year-round and not just when the budget is being hashed out.
Challenger candidate Christopher D’Aveta said the schools need to partner more with private institutions such as universities and should put more effort into grant-writing.
While getting more school funding was a top priority for all candidates, each candidate had different ideas on other key issues facing the schools.
Other Priorities
School Committee Vice-Chairman Bob Skerry, running for his ninth term, said he would like to see more parental involvement and continuing improvements at Medford High School, including technology updates and new lockers.
Challenger candidate Lisa Attenazio wants smaller class sizes, afterschool programs for special education students, and an improved special education process so “parents don’t have to fight so hard for services they are entitled to.â€
Medford High School students recruited by Social Studies Department head Bernadette Ricciardelli, assisted during the forum and served as moderators, including Loring Greene, Antonia Pugliese, Louis Rocco, Michael Maloney, Paula Tramontin, Brian Sheehan, and Keerthana Gnanapradeepan.
More on the Candidates
The election is Tuesday, November 6. Polls open this year for the first time at 7AM. The public will have a chance to hear from all of the candidates at a meet and greet organized by the Medford Democratic Party on Wednesday, October 17, at 6:30PM at City Hall. In addition, all of the candidates participated in a citizen questionnaire and their responses will be posted to www.VoteMedford.org within the next couple of days.
More Election News…
School Committee Candidate Speak out at Democratic Forum
City Council Candidates Grilled at Democratic Forum
Polls Open at 7AM this Year on November 6- See Where you Vote