THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JAnuARy 26, 2024 Page 13 Everett fire service leader among 34 graduates from Management Training Program Multifaceted course supports professional development for chiefs and rising officers 2023-2024 CFO Class Picture. (Courtesy of Department of Fire Services) R ecently, nearly three dozen fire service leaders from across Massachusetts graduated in the 29th class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program. The four-month program for new chief officers and chief officer candidates is delivered jointly by the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA) and the University of Massachusetts Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management. Through classroom instruction and out-ofclass assignments, the course delivers intensive training in the non-fire suppression aspects of managing a municipal fire department. “The Chief Fire Officer program is a tremendous opportunity for new chiefs and rising officers,” said State Fire SCHOOL DAZE | FROM PAGE 9 ning superintendent” Priya Tahiliani for the position. She previously withdrew from the Melrose superintendent search when she learned that she was going to be rejected for that position also. Committee member At-Large Samantha Hurley asked the question: “I have a hard time understanding what reinstating Superintendent Tahiliani would do since her contract is up February 29.” Was it their objective to bring her back and extend her contract end date to one unknown? It is their objective to continue Marshal Jon M. Davine, who graduated from the program in 2016. “The rigorous instruction in such a wide variety of topics will help these graduates provide the leadership that their departments and communities deserve. Completing the program is a major accomplishment and I want to congratulate all of them on their initiative and dedication to professional development.” The Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program covers a spectrum of topics considered essential for effective public sector management. It includes human resource management, ethics, executive leadership, governmental and organization structures, information management, customer-focused strategic planning, legal isthe circus act. Stirred with emotion about reinstating Tahiliani, the three misfits, Samantha Lambert, Robin Babcock, and Joanna Garren’s decision-making is clouded regarding how to move forward and work “for the kids.” It is upsetting to watch Lambert direct Garren on what to say and what motions to make. Their feelings are setting the entire school system up for serious failure regarding the quality of our students’ education. Margaret Cornelio said it best: “We need to make a decision that is right for our Graduation Ceremony. (Courtesy of Department of Fire Services) sues, budgets and public finance, community awareness, and labor relations. The curriculum helps fire officers improve their ability to lead and manage personnel, understand employees’ needs and problems, communischools, our students, and our community.” For two years we have been hearing the same issues regarding overcrowding, drop in MCAS scores and schools underperforming. These are the issues that we want the School Committee and public participation to address. It has been all talk and no action by the former superintendent and former School Committee. Too much emotion, too much talk and not enough action was the pattern of our previous “award-winning” Superintendent Tahiliani. Samantha Hurley, commitcate effectively to a variety of audiences and leverage inter-agency cooperation. The MFA, a division of the Department of Fire Services, offers this program tuition-free. Among the 2023-2024 graduating class was Deputee member At-Large, also agreed, stating, “I don’t want to add to the chaos. I want to look at this in an organizational way, how to move forward in a procedural way, as organized as possible, for our staff to do their jobs.” She also understands that discussing the past at every meeting and blaming the people of the past will not change the future. She wants to discuss ideas that enhance the curriculum. Mrs. Babcock stated, “We owe it to the school community to engage in this discussion however difficult that ty Chief Lawrence Cardinale from the Everett Fire Department and others were drawn from many fire departments across Massachusetts. The class members serve as chiefs, deputy chiefs, and captains. may be.” Everyone wants to move on and solve the major challenges our schools are facing. Let’s stop making the past the primary topic of conversation at every School Committee meeting. Moving forward is not offensive and involves hard decisions. Moving forward should not be based on emotion. The biggest prohibitor currently with our public speakers and three misfit School Committee members (Lambert, Babcock, and Garren) is emotion. Removing individual emotions is the only way to work “for the kids.”
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