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School Committee
If there are no significant changes in the town economic picture, would you support an override at the end of the five-year plan?Leba Heigham, a teacher with 15 years' experience who holds a principal's license and a first-time school candidate, said that once Arlington advocates on the state level for more funding, seeking to partners with the state, then "we can seek another override."
Judson Pierce, a lawyer who deals with family issues, said he plans to attend lobbying day with Stand for Children, an educational-advocacy group, in mid-April to urge more state aid. He did not answer the override question directly.
Joseph Tully, a lawyer and an unsuccessful School Committee candidate in 2003, said he supports an override, but he said "we should do all we can beforehand" and that it should be a last resort. He noted he wants to rebuild Thompson and Stratton and has a plan to do so.
Joseph Curro Jr., manager of online systems integration for The New England Journal of Medicine and a first-time school candidate, cited the wording of question and said the committee has "very little choice but to go back to the voters" for an override. He urged joining with 16 other communities facing overrides. "Need to band together," he said.
Joseph Curran, the lone incumbent and a teacher/coach for the Woburn public schools, took a different position from the other four but a line of thinking he has followed for months. "We don't have the trust of the people because of litigation," he said, referring to the challenge brought by dismissed Ottoson teacher Chuck Coughlin that has led to arbitration. Curran said he estimated close to $300,000 had been spent on legal fees
"for that," referring to the Coughlin-Bouris case. "Until the
litigation is settled," he said, "there is not enough credibility for
an override."
In a related question, candidates were asked:
This has been a divisive year. What is your experience as a unifying force?
Tully cited his arbitration background in business.
Curran did not answer the question directly. He called himself an "independent voice" and "people have to stand strong with conviction."
Curro cited his work as a unifier on issues affecting his neighborhood related to Symmes redevelopment. He said that some who disagreed with him as the plans for the Symmes project were shaping up now support his election.
Heigham called it "essential to have a diversity of opinion on the School Committee." She said all must work together to define the problem.
Pierce said he wants to be a model for his children. He echoed Heigham in saying all should listen and learn from one another.
What action would you take to increase tHe number of minority teachers?
As immediate past president of town Human Rights Commission, Curro said he discussed this issue in an HRC forum last year. He said he would reach out via the media and try to make Arlington a more welcoming town.
"Arlington is a microcosm of the U.S.," Heigham said, saying the schools should seek to hire minority candidates earlier than it does now. She said the School Committee should work with the administration and the teachers' union, the Arlington Education Assoc iation, to identify minority candidates.
Pierce said he attended the international festival at the Thompson School in March. "Events like this are a great way to start," he said, suggested the schools hire a personnel director.
Tully said he was not certain there is a specific course the schools can take on this issue. He said the committee should use its position of influence to make an impression to attract candidates. "Hiring best based on merit," he said.
While the committee is dedicated to hire minority candidates, Curran said, "but fiscally we can't hire many minorities" and noted the higher salaries in Cambridge and Belmont.
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Enuma Elish
performs "Metropolis" Thursday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. at the Regent
Theater. General admission...
