Candidate Q&A: Relationship Between School Committees

This week we are questioning the two candidates for the Shawsheen Tech School Committee. Today, we asked about the relationship between the two School Committees.

2. The relationship between the Shawsheen Tech and Tewksbury School Districts has been a bit strained over the last year or two. What can and should be done to improve this relationship?

--

(I) Peter Downing: The Tewksbury Public Schools and Shawsheen Valley Tech have always had a strong collaborative professional relationship. Shawsheen has done a number of projects for the Tewksbury School System and is presently committed to modernizing a courtyard at the Dewing Elementary School later this spring. 

The Superintendents speak on a continual basis and maintain a positive, professional working relationship. The strian in the relationship came as a result of the politicians on the Tewksbury School Committee who voted not to allow Tewksbury 8th graders to hear presentations from the Shawsheen Valley Technical High Guidance Department on the options of attending Shawsheen Tech. Since the more boisterous members have left the Tewksbury School Committee,  the new Tewksbury Schoolo Committee has allowed the presentation to begin again as was the case this past January. Although we are presently not allowed to interview candidates once we receive their application from Tewksbury at the Wynn Middle School, we are fortunate to do so at the Tewksbury Library due to the support we have received from the Tewksbury Board of Selectmen.

--

Michael Kelley: I have always felt that a direct approach is the most effective one, simply sit down with your fellow elected officials in a public forum here in our community and start talking! It truly is that simple. Over the years I have served on several different boards here in town, both elected and appointed.   There is no question that members often disagree with each other, but that is the wonderful nature of our democracy. In the end, it is these discussions along with public input that enables our elected officials to make informed decisions.

I would point to the tremendous partnership that we were able to forge between the Tewksbury Schools and the Board of Selectmen. I think there were two key factors in our success, one being that we both felt strongly about sitting down on a quarterly basis to talk if even just to keep the lines of communication open, and then that we all shared a common belief system in that we wanted to work cooperatively towards the betterment of the community as a whole.

If elected to the Shawsheen Tech School Committee I would ask my fellow board member to join me in meeting with the Tewksbury School Committee and any other interested executive board to begin a similar dialog.