November 1, 2003

 

 

Election will bring change for School Committee


By JILL ANDERSON

Staff Writer

NEWBURYPORT — One of the quietest election races in the city may well end up producing some of the biggest changes.

On Tuesday, voters will elect three new faces to the seven-member School Committee. Three incumbents who have frequently voted in sync are stepping down — Ruth Garvey and Mary Anne Clancy, who have served eight years apiece, and Bill Heenehan, who has served four years. Clancy is stepping down to run for mayor — the mayor serves as chairman of the committee.

That leaves three members who have served two years apiece — Bruce Menin and Richard Sullivan Jr., who had often sided with one another, and Laurie Naughton.

Over the past year, Menin and Sullivan had unsucessfully challenged the committee to change the way it does business. Two measures in particular — conducting an outside audit of school spending and creating a budget subcommittee to comb through the school’s finances — had split the committee and failed to pass.

Menin, Sullivan and Naughton say it’s clear that now the voting dynamic will change, though they are unsure whether that means there will be more unanimity.

“In a lot of ways, I am looking forward to working with new people on the committee, whoever they may be,” Menin said. “This election represents a significant transition for the School Committee and schools.”

Menin said the committee will be facing several key challenges, including completing the high school building project and its review, building a relationship with the River Valley Charter School — a relationship that at times has been rocky due to the money that is transferred from the Newburyport budget to the charter school to pay for student tuition — and addressing overcrowding and other issues at the city elementary schools.

“It is going to be a new committee ... that could be a good thing or a bad thing,” said Naughton. “It’s good when you get fresh blood in there and a new thought process, but bad because there’s no consistency of membership for things that happen prior to two years ago.”

“I think we need good, clear-thinking, independent-minded people, who don’t mind working hard,” said Sullivan. “I think all four are good, qualified candidates.”

The four newcomers range in age from 32 to 50. The candidates for School Committee include Brian Cummings, of 11 Elm St., Andrea Jones, of 20 Merrill St., Victoria Pearson, of 43 Moulton St,. and Mark Wright, of 325 High St.

Cummings, 32, is a father of three young boys, one of whom attends the River Valley Charter School. Cummings said he wants to focus on budget accountability, inequities in the school system and communication.

“Having been a student here, I feel in touch with what the students need,” Cummings said. “Being a parent, I’d like to reciprocate and be fiduciary. I feel I could play an important role working with the City Council, the mayor and existing committee members.”

Jones, 48, a Kelley School parent, promised to focus on creating safe facilities, continuing to deliver quality education and examining past, present and future school plans.

“I watch open meetings and the various approaches to the funding crisis and that’s what prompted me to run,” Jones said. “The way information is disseminated has been untimely and there doesn’t seem to be a clear understanding of the process.”

Pearson, 50, is the only candidate running for School Committee who won’t have any children entering Newburyport public schools. She said she will examine spending to make sure money is being used effectively, and maintaining elementary and middle schools.

“I don’t intend to reinvent the wheel. I don’t have an agenda,” she said.

Wright, 38, a father of three children, said he will focus on overcrowding issues in the four elementary schools, keeping technology updated and maintaining school buildings and facilities.

“I think I can make a difference,” Wright said. “New people and fresh ideas can make a difference.”

 
 

 

 

(This article replicated online with permission of the Newburyport Daily News, an Eagle Tribune Newspaper.)

 
 
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