Laura Clancey On Run For 'Tough' Worcester School Committee At-Large Seat

WORCESTER, MA — In 2023, Worcester voters will elect school committee members in an entirely new way, picking representatives from districts across the city along with at-large members.

The new election system is the result of a settlement of a lawsuit filed against Worcester in 2021 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 charged.

Election expert have divided Worcester into six new school committee district lettered A to F, plus three at-large seats. The new system will create a larger school committee, and one whose members will probably be the most geographically diverse in modern times.

Incumbent Laura Clancey is returning amid this new arrangement seeking a third term in a four-way for race for two seats with school committee colleagues Tracy Novick and Sue Mailman and interim Easthampton Superintendent Maureen Binienda — the same Maureen Binienda whose contract Clancey (and Novick) voted not to renew in 2021.

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

But the new district voting system isn't the only issue facing Worcester schools this year. The district is tackling issues like aging buildings, school safety, and issues outside the district 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 Clancey, a licensed guidance counselor, 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?

From the beginning my motivation for me has come from being a parent with 2 daughters in the Worcester Public Schools and as a lifelong educator. This year I knew running at large was going to be tough, but I also know that I am in this for the right reasons. I am dedicated to education and my role on the Worcester School Committee.

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 believe the public knows about the new system, but I don't believe they know who is in which district. As I am out knocking on doors I am trying to do my best to spread awareness of the new system.

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 believe families should have options when it comes to choosing schools for their children. I also know that we have incredible schools in Worcester and we offer so much more than a Charter School can, including the new one that is in Worcester.

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?

The new anti-LGBTQ+ policy is just one of many reasons why my children are not attending schools in the Worcester Diocese. I do not believe we should be banning books dealing with sex and gender issues. I believe parents/caregivers should be monitoring what their children are reading if they choose to.

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

I support and have approved all of the Superintendent's Goals for this year. They include hiring and recruiting a talented workforce. Cultivating a safe and supportive learning environment, in doing so a stronger focus on the infrastructure of our buildings. Included in this year's goals is a strong focus on assessing, responding, and improving student outcomes.

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?

We know we have many aged buildings in our district and many are in need of repairs or rebuilds. I believe this administration has done a great job prioritizing these repairs. We also know that we have budget constraints in getting everything done that we need to. This is why it is critical to continue our advocacy at the State level, especially with MSBA.

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 would like to see a cell phone policy that encompasses both student cell phone usage and the concerns of our educators. We know phones are not going away. We also know they can be a disruption and the last thing I want is for our staff to be policing cell phone usage, they have other things to accomplish. I know we can get one that fits the needs of all, but this will include input from our administrators, educators students, and parents.