Page 4 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE–Friday, November 1, 2019 School Committee forum focuses on diversity and supt. search By Christopher Roberson W ith one week remaining before the General Election, incumbent School Committee members and challengers answered questions from voters about diversity, the search for the next superintendent of schools and a myriad of other topics. Speaking about the superinProud to Serve then, Proud to Serve Now! Ward 1 challenger Edgar Ruiz (left) and Ward 1 Member Allen Panarese during the School Committee candidates forum on October 29. (Advocate Photos by Christopher Roberson) 2nd Class Petty Officer Peter A. Napolitano receives his first Good Conduct Award and Commendation as Section Leader of the Station Honor Guard by Captain W.L Rice, Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station, Brunswick, ME. (1981) “ Serving on active duty for 8-years in the U.S. Navy, I learned duty, discipline, honor, dedication, persistence, respect for our traditions, our country and a deep respect for all the people of our community. I bring those traits with me to City Hall, every time. ” Re-Elect PETER A. NAPOLITANO Councilor at Large – Elected City Wide Number #3 on the Ballot – November 5th Sponsored by the Committee to Elect Peter A. Napolitano. Contact us at 617-389-7340, panward1@aol.com, or Facebook Ward 5 School Committee Member Marcony Almeida-Barros. tendent search, School Committee Chairman Thomas Abruzzese vowed that the next top administrator would not come from the Everett Public Schools. “We are going to find a superintendent who is from outside this district; any change to that will be over my dead body,” he said during the October 29 candidates forum. Ward 3 Member Frank Parker said the search has been a “public process,” adding that survey results and input from two public forums have been taken into consideration. When the time comes to vote for a new superintendent, Ward 1 Member Allen Panarese said, he will remain steadfast in his decision. “When I go with something, I go with it,” he said. “I’m not going to be a flip-flop.” Ward 4 Member David Ela said the 15-member Search Committee collectively spent more than 350 hours mulling over resumes, conducting interviews and deliberating. Regarding diversity, Parker said greater diversification is needed in both staffing and curriculum development. “We need to celebrate culture, bring it in,” he said. Ward 4 challenger Dana Murray spoke about her experience working with different groups of students as a teacher in the Boston Public Schools for more than 20 years. “You name it, I’ve done it all in terms of student population,” she said. “I am a teaching and learning expert.” Abruzzese said he was surWard 4 Member David Ela prised to hear that English Language Learners (ELL) still have needs that are not being met. “I don’t understand why services aren’t being provided; we have plenty of money,” he said. Ward 5 Member Marcony Almeida-Barros was also taken aback, noting the recent hiring of additional staff. “We just voted to hire new teachers, where are they going? Are they going to ELL?” he asked. Regarding the district’s high enrollment figures, Ward 6 challenger John Mavilio said 30 students in a class is “way too high.” However, Almeida-Barros said that is the current reality. “There is no class in Everett that has 20 kids or 18 kids – all the schools are packed,” he said. The candidates also addressed the issue of high school seniors who are unsure about their lives after graduation. At-Large challenger Samantha Lambert said it would be beneficial to have upperclassmen enrolled in the Academy Program to help them explore career options that may not have existed 30 years ago. “It’s a very different world right now,” she said. In addition, At-Large challenger Daniel Skeritt said, an external community resource center should also be available to students. At-Large challenger David Lindsey said the process needs to begin at a young age. “Preparing them for success starts in elementary school,” he said.
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