2023 Worcester School Committee Race: Sue Coghlin Mailman Q&A

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester voters in 2023 will elect school committee members in a new way with districts representing portions of the city and at-large members representing the whole.

The new election system comes after a 2021 lawsuit by a coalition led by the Worcester NAACP over the city's all at-large school committee. Electing members at-large led to a school committee comprised of mostly white members who didn't represent the diversity of the second-largest school system in Massachusetts, the lawsuit said.

In 2023, voters will elect six new members in districts lettered A to F, plus two at-large members. The new system will create a larger school committee, and one whose members will probably be the most geographically diverse in modern times.

Incumbent Sue Coghlin Mailman is returning amid this new arrangement seeking for her second term in a four-way for race for two seats with school committee colleagues Laura Clancey and Tracy Novick and interim Easthampton Superintendent Maureen Binienda, the former Worcester superintendent whose contract Novick and Clancey voted not to renew in 2021.

(The four at-large school committee candidates met at a Sept. 27 candidate forum, which you can read a recap of here.)

The new school committee voting system isn't the only issue facing Worcester schools this year. The district is tackling issues like aging buildings, school safety, and outside factors like a possible ballot measure to eliminate MCAS and the incursion of a new charter school opposed unanimously by the committee earlier this year.

Along with all other school committee candidates running opposed and unopposed in 2023, Worcester Patch asked Mailman, owner of Coghlin Electric, to respond to a questionnaire to help inform voters about her stance on local issues ahead of Election Day. Here's how she responded:

What motivated you to run for Worcester School Committee this year?

This would be my second term and I know that I can be a strong voice in continuing the work of new Superintendent Monarrez in moving the district forward. I ran first in 2021 because I believed our then district leader was not working with or listening to students, educators and families and even the broader community which I believe needs to be an integral partner of our public education system. My experience in running my family business, Coghlin Electric and working on many local and statewide boards is experience that is useful in serving our schools.

This is the first school committee election under the new district system, and four of the new district seats are uncontested. Do you think the voting public knows that the system has changed, and if not, what role does the school committee play in spreading awareness?

I think the public remains confused about the changes. I was vocal in stating that I thought it made more sense to make sure council districts and school districts were aligned. Unfortunately that did not happen, so as a candidate I do my best to educate voters at the doors. School committee candidates have been included in many forums and all organizers have spent time educating the audiences. The city has held forums and mailed information to the voters, but we’ll see how it goes. I also don’t think there’s a great understanding of the differences in the roles of district councilors versus district school committee members. So lots of work ahead.

Worcester is now home to the first charter school to open in Massachusetts in five years, and the current school committee opposed the opening of the Worcester Cultural Academy. What’s your stance on charter schools in general and this one specifically?

I have long been against charter schools, at my core I believe they were created to bypass union agreements instead of working with the unions to make change at the bargaining table. I’m a fan of innovation, often the selling point of charters, and know that we can do that within our public education system. Charters are a distraction and take money away from our true public education systems, including Worcester Cultural Academy.

The Worcester Diocese has implemented a new policy in its local schools that many have called anti-LGBTQ+, and there’s been a larger movement across the nation to ban lessons and books in schools dealing with sex and gender issues. How do you feel about these issues?

I am against the stance of the current Bishop of Worcester, regarding sex education, Nativity schools flags and his anti-LGBTQ+ policies for diocesan schools. I am against book bans and against banning lessons on sex and gender issues. I am FOR robust, inclusive education, and I am FOR supporting ALL children.

If you could pick anything, what goals would you set for Superintendent Rachel Monárrez in the coming school committee term?

As you likely know, the school system has a rather prescriptive process set by the state for goal setting and evaluation so her goals have been set, and the school committee has voted to approve the goals. They include student achievement, staff development and building improvement. I encourage Dr. Monárrez to continue leading by developing the leaders within our system, listening and including student, family and community voices and to stay focused on the work and NOT the noise thus raising the bar for student achievement for ALL.

Worcester will soon open the new Doherty High School, but many other buildings in the district are either in need of repair or replacement. How should the district prioritize these projects?

A large system like Worcester has to prioritize building repair and maintenance across many constructs, including emergency repairs, access to building repair areas during school hours, money and equity. As our school population grows and our buildings further deteriorate, because of a lack of funding for so many years, we will have to be creative with solutions and we will have to use all resources and partners to strongly advocate state and federal legislators to prioritize public school building funding, particularly in high need districts like Worcester

Burncoat Middle and High school must be our next building replacement project. I will advocate for a 50–50 arts and vocational school. At the same time advocating for increased reimbursement percentages from the state for vocational investments as those programs are high cost and must be high return.

The Worcester School Committee has started a review of the district’s cell phone policy. What would you want that policy to look like?

I’m in favor of the review that will take place within the district and look forward to learning more from the experts; educators and students about updating our cell phone policy.

Read previous 2023 Worcester School Committee candidate profiles:

• Tracy Novick, At-Large
• Laura Clancey, At-Large
• Molly McCullough, District A