Page 2 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, NOVEmbER 3, 2023 ~ Op-Ed ~ Learning from Our Educational Past in Everett By Mayor Carlo DeMaria A little less than 9 months after a brave woman told a Middlesex County jury that shame, embarrassment, and fear kept her from coming forward sooner to report her unacceptable working conditions in the Everett School Department under the prior superintendent, it is difficult to understand why anyone would object to the School Committee using a professional process to make sure that we were not repeating the mistakes of the past. The Everett School Committee has been criticized for acting differently than it did during the leadership of the previous superintendent. We are acting differently, but not for any malicious or political reasons. We are acting differently because we have learned from our mistakes. We are making a concerted effort to be more accountable to employees, especially those who felt that they were failed in the past. This week, we did not revert back to more than 30 years with a superintendent denying and dismissing any and all complaints and a school committee simply taking that to be the answer because the superintendent said so. Requesting an independent investigation is not a new approach. It is a practice that has been used in the past in Everett. It also is a practice that is used by other school districts and school committees in other cities and towns. Investigations are professional tools that are used to review the conduct and performance of employees at all levels of an organization. The votes taken by the Everett School Committee on Monday night were not determinations on the merits of recent claims that have been made. Not every claim of harassment, discrimination, hostile work environment, or retaliation is proven to be true. The votes taken by the members who support an independent investigation were decisions that school employees deserve a better opportunity to have their complaints reviewed than they were given in the past. If we know that we have done nothing wrong, then there is no need to object to or take offense at a process being followed. Are investigations fun? Absolutely not. Are they how we would choose to spend our time? Of course not. Are they an important part of making sure we are fulfilling our obligation to our employees and to the public? Absolutely. I don’t know what the outcome of this investigation will be. I do know that this process will respect the rights of all parties involved and that is the obligation of all employers. What troubled me the most about the discussion and debate that I witnessed this week was the lack of acknowledgement and the outright dismissal by some committee members of the complaints that had been brought forward by school employees. Voting against an investigation basically sent a message to those employees that there was no merit to their concerns and they didn’t even warrant being considered. Comments LEARNING | SEE PAGE 3 The Everett Advocate proudly endorses… T Business Owner, Coach, Independent Jim Mastrocola knows the concerns of the Ward 4 residents. He is a lifelong resident of the ward, residing at 56 Preston Street his entire life. He and his 3 daughters attended the Everett Public Schools. Jim owned and operated the Mastrocola Insurance Company on the Parkway in Everett for 34 years. His work ethic enabled him to service over 3,000 clients. His work ethics, management skills and professional experience will be an asset to the school committee and city. Jim is community oriented, having volunteered for over 12 seasons as a coach, manager and mentor for Babe Ruth Baseball and Girls Softball Organizations. The Everett School Committee needs an independent voice to ensure that our administrators, teachers, and coaches are doing everything possible to provide the children of Everett the skills needed to maximize their potential. he Everett Advocate newspaper publisher is proud to endorse in the General Election on Tuesday, November 7th the following candidates: H Alfred Lattanzi for ward 6 council, David LaRosa Senatillaka, Irene Cardillo, Katy Rogers and Joseph Pierotti, Jr. for councillor-at-large. For School Committee, The Advocate endorses James Mastrocola, Cynthia Sarnie, Joseph LaMonica, Jason Marcus, Joseph D’Onofrio and Millie Cardello. The Advocate endorses these candidates and incumbents due to their integrity, honesty and hard work for the citizens of Everett, as they persevere over the current political climate by bad actors - who continue to disrupt and threaten those who represent this great city that is a symbol of diversity and openness, with an unending positive future. – James Mitchell, Publisher
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