Everett Public Schools – Page 18 – Everett Leader Herald

Ward 6 School Committee race not a done deal

Leader Herald Staff

Joseph D’Onofrio, Daniel Skerritt, Thomas Abruzzesse and Pattiann Scalesse represent four very well know people in their ward.

Abruzzessee is best know for his support of Superintendent of Schools Priya Tahiliani when he was the chair of the school committee.

That support for the embattled Talhiani in this primary is a significant plus for Abruzzessee.

Her popularity could power him back into the seat he formerly lost.

Daniel Skerritt has almost won a seat with several attempts in the recent past.

He is also a strong contender. He is very well known and highly respected.

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Overcrowding solutions anyone?

With a new school year only weeks away, many of our readers and the parents of Everett’s public school children must be wondering: how is the overcrowding going to be handled?

This is frankly a relevant question.

To our knowledge, no new classroom space has been bought, built or allotted for the upcoming school year which very well might prove to be one of the most overcrowded years in public school history here.

Pope John is a dead letter as a possible option.

Modular or portable classrooms are not being discussed and have not been financed, yet.

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School Committee races are where it’s at; possibilities eclipse council interest

Many eyes on the school committee

By Josh Resnek

It has been many a municipal election in Everett since there has been as much talk and interest about possible changes on the school committee.

Mind you, that is, possible changes.

Everett elections are not well known for dramatic, earthquake type results altering the complexion of the school committee or the city council.

This year, however, the potential for upsets and for natural change are abundant in the school committee lineup of incumbents and candidates.

Then pillar upon which all the arguable unrest hangs is the reappointment or the banishment of Superintendent of Schools Priya Tahiliani.

Candidate sentiments about this big item – whether or not School Tahiliani can escape the present school committee’s Draconian refusal to extend her contract – is latently powering the school committee election lineup.

How might school committee contests be determined by this?

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School Committee contests abound with possibilities

Can Tahiliani be saved?

By Josh Resnek

What really matters to both sides in the battle to save Superintendent of Schools Priya Tahiliani or to get rid of her – a process already underway – gives gravitas to all the school committee races.

What happens with all the school committee races abounds with possibilities.

On the other hand, there is the likelihood that nothing much is going to change.

If enough votes can be turned around, the effort to send Tahiliani packing could possibly be reversed.

For Tahiliani proponents this means the new school committee to be convened in January when all is said and done would need to have a 6-4 vote in favor of Tahiliani to outnumber the present line-up.

The present lineup is strong with the mayor, Millie Cardello, Jason Marcus, Joe LaMonica, Mike McLaughlin and Cynthia Sarnie all aligned against Tahiliani.

McLaughlin has already announced he is not running.

So his seat is up for grabs.

However, Cardello is facing a strong effort by opponent candidate Margaret Cornelio.

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Incumbent Mike Mangan facing 4 opponents in Ward 4 contest

Leader Herald Staff

Incumbent School Committee Chairman Mike Mangan is facing a number of opponents in his bid to be returned to the Ward 4 seat.

Two weeks ago he was facing three candidates.

As this week comes to pass, that number has increased by one, school committee hopeful, local insurance man, James Mastrocola.

Mangan is also facing Thomas Messina, Robin Babcock, and Lucas Rosa.

Messina so far is the only candidate out of the handful who has had his signatures certified.

Mangan has carved out a place for himself on the school committee.

He presents himself as someone who makes his own decisions.

He recently served up the motion to begin the search for a replacement for Superintendent of Schools Priya Tahiliani, but only after praising Tahiliani and detailing how he did not want to be doing what he did but that he had to do it as it was the wish of the school committee.

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