Former School Committee Chairman Denise Burns has taken out papers, as has a political newcomer to Arlington, Kurt Fusaris. Burns, of 19 Cleveland St., took out papers Dec. 10. Fusaris, of 128 Pleasant St., No. 407, took out papers on Dec. 21.Burns has been asked to comment.

Teresa R. Bottoni, who ran for School Committee in 2001, has also taken out nomination papers for School Committee. The incumbents in the April election are Burns and Ron Spangler. The latter has not taken out papers and has declined to comment about whether he will run.

Fusaris is a speech-language pathologist with 11 years of experience in the field. An Arlington resident the past two years, he previously worked at Hardy, Peirce, and Ottoson, but is now employed by a contract agency as a speech-language pathologist in greater Boston.

"In that time, I have become very familiar with what works and does not work in Arlington," he wrote in an e-mail Dec. 28.

He wrote that he expected his priorities in the campaign will be to address the critical budget issues, including saving teaching jobs and reducing class sizes, special education reform, and providing for a more challenging and dynamic curriculum.

"I don't have a lot of money or a big name, but I will rely mainly on a grass-roots campaign that reaches out to the community.

Originally from the New Haven, Conn., area, he is finishing a master's in science education at Northeastern University.

The 2010 town election is set for Saturday, April 10. Information about current School Committee members is here >>

This story was first reported Dec. 28, 2008.