Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021 ~ Political Announcement-~ Career educator Kristi Talagan seeks a seat on the Saugus Housing Authority Hello, My name is Kristi Talagan, and I am running for the Housing Board in Saugus! I grew up in Saugus and still reside here along with my husband, a school psychologist, and my daughter pursuing a degree in Economics. I graduated in 1977 from Saugus High School. Let’s fast forward; my education includes a Master’s Degree in Education from Lesley University, an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems from UM Boston, state certifications in Special Education, Business, and Administration. My experience includes working for 28 years as an educator and later as a student affairs administrator for Chelsea Public Schools. There I was responsible for overseeing the school system’s safety and security, student affairs, and the needs of those with physical and mental health impairments. My responsibilities included interpreting and writing policies and procedures aligned with the local, state, and federal regulations. I have a thorough understanding of educational and disability law and have developed training in Crisis Intervention, Educational Law, Behavior Management, Substance Abuse, Restorative Justice, Mediation, Mindgang units, MA General Hospital, Department of Education, Housing Authorities, Community Members, and others. I continue my tenure as an Adjunct Professor at Bunker Hill Community College. I instruct various classes in their Workforce and Development Department. I own and operate a compliance-based education business and develop educational compliance training for Massachusetts. As a critical board member SAUGUS NATIVE: Kristi Talagan, a 1977 Saugus High School graduate, is running for the Saugus Housing Authority. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) fulness, and many more. Additionally, I was fortunate to work closely with DOJ, courts, CPD, and advocate, I will oversee the adherence to State and Federal policies and procedures for the Saugus Housing Authority in the service of supporting those with low-income, elderly, and disabled to secure and retain affordable housing. I would love your vote and the opportunity to serve you as a Saugus Housing Board member! My Best, Kristi Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Special to The Advocate Mystic Valley files Complaint against Mass. Mystic Valley filed a comY esterday, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School (Mystic Valley) filed a complaint in Suffolk Superior Court against the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in response to a draft report issued by DESE which will impact Mystic Valley’s application for reauthorization in 2023. Summary of the Complaint plaint on September 20, 2021, in Suffolk Superior Court against DESE seeking to enjoin the Department from evaluating the school based upon what the school contends are newly created, unlawful, vague and targeted “cultural proficiency” criteria that would put the school in breach of its Charter and potentially cause it to be shut down. Mystic Valley is a widely respected, successful charter school that has been regularly rechartered over the last two decades by the state without issue. Mystic Valley employs a dress code and bases its curriculum on a commonality and “melting pot” approach to education that is hyper-focused on excellence in academic achievement. Mystic Valley alleges in its Complaint that it has unearthed internal DESE emails showing that DESE is directly targeting Mystic Valley and its Charter, including by appointing at least one member of a review panel who openly described the member’s bias and intention to go after Mystic Valley before the review even began. At very same time, internal DESE email conceded that DESE had no formal complaints pending against Mystic Valley from anyone. Mystic Valley strenuously objects to the draft report and issues the following statement from its Board of Trustees “This is a case about academic freedom. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts granted Mystic Valley’s charter more than twenty years ago, and the School has successfully followed its charter ever since. However, DESE is now clearly working to try and undermine Mystic Valley’s charter and approach to education. DESE’s biased actions are an existential threat to our continued operations, jeopardizing the very core of Massachusetts’s legal obligation to protect charter schools and their autonomy. That is why we have gone to court. “We are proud of our school, its mission, its values, its diverse community and the achievements of our thousands of students and alumni. We will continue to defend our community against baseless attacks. If we do not, thousands of students of all races, ethnicities, incomes, and backgrounds will lose the opportunity to attend a nationally recognized school with a remarkable record of student achievement. We cannot let that happen. “It is clear that the DESE officials who conducted the site visit did so with a pre-existing bias against our school and its charter. In internal emails exchanged six months before any site visit, DESE personnel repeatedly stated, without evidence, that Mystic Valley is in need of reform. They used this sham site visit, conducted virtually and without ever setting foot on Mystic Valley’s campus, to set up an agenda-driven takedown of one of MYSTIC VALLEY | SEE PAGE 7
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