LETTER: Beverly Hugo Installed As MASC President

FRAMINGHAM, MA—The following was submitted by Michael R. Hugo, Esq. Want to get in on the conversation? Send your news and letters to charlene.arsenault@patch.com.

Framingham School Committee member Beverly Hugo was installed as president of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC), the first person from Framingham to ever receive that position.

Hugo is running for her 5th term on the School Committee, and has been a very active participant in MASC for her entire time on the school committee. She previously served as the chair of the Metropolitan Division
of MASC, and over the years has served in various capacities as a member of the Policy and Resolutions Committee as well as being a Legislative Liaison for ASC, meeting with legislators both in Boston and in Washington D.C.

Her focus has been on improving the Framingham school system as she is continually lobbying to increase funding her hometown. She is credited with rewriting various financial formulas, which has resulted in nearly $6 million in additional funding to Framingham over the past three years alone. According to Senator Karen Spilka, “Bev has been a fierce advocate for the Framingham public schools and a reliable partner in our efforts to increase state funding for education.” She has accompanied Hugo to several key meetings where she has attempted to persuade other senators to help with public education funding, and Sen. Spilka says that, “When Bev walks the halls of the State House, dropping into various Senate colleagues’ offices, she is
received with respect and treated as an educational leader.” Spilka calls Hugo “a tireless advocate for public education and her requests are always taken seriously.”

Hugo has worked closely with Rep. Chris Walsh on various budget and policy issues. Rep.
Walsh says, “Beverly is always working to push the boundaries of Framingham education further
forward and her reputation and presence at the state house has resulted in additional millions in
state funding to our schools.” Rep. Walsh, who was honored as the MASC Legislator of the Year
(See separate attachment with the text of that presentation), points out that “The fact that
Beverly has been elected the upcoming President of the Massachusetts Association of School
Committee by her peers is important to our community; Framingham has never before had a
member of the executive board much less the President Elect, and the influence and advocacy for
our district cannot be overstated.”

As president of MASC, Ms. Hugo will continue to represent our children as Framingham’s only
member of Gov. Baker’s Committee Local Government Advisory Committee, at which she meets
with the Governor and his staff every month.

Glen Koocher, the Executive Director of MASC says, “I can think of few people who put their heart
and soul into advocacy for children and their families and whose values are more directly aimed
at fighting prejudice, tackling the insidious effect of poverty, and creating opportunities for kids
through public education, with the focus and energy of Beverly Hugo.”

In addition to Mrs. Hugo assuming the presidency and Rep. Walsh being named Legislator of the
Year, Framingham’s Richard Weader was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award and Jewish Family Services of Metrowest was honored as Outstanding School Partner.

Michael R. Hugo, Esq

Framingham

Photos submitted