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Date: 5/25/2022
EAST LONGMEADOW – Elected officials will be chosen on June 7, at the East Longmeadow Annual Town Election. The ballot offers the choice of five candidates for three Town Council seats and two for two seats on the School Committee.
Additionally, three write-in candidates have announced their plans to run for office. Aimee Dalenta has launched a write-in bid for a seat on the School Committee. Meanwhile, Matthew Boucher told Reminder Publishing he would seek to fill the two years left in the term of the late Councilor Thomas O’Connor through a write-in campaign. John Harding has also expressed interest in filling O’Connor’s seat, but it was not in time to participate in this story.
The following questions were asked of each of the candidates. The answers are in the candidates’ own words.
Town Council
The candidates for Town Council are Mathew Boucher, incumbent Kathleen Hill, Anna Jones, Terri Leone, incumbent Ralph Page and Samuel Stoughton.
Reminder Publishing: What are the top three issues facing East Longmeadow over the next year?
Matthew Boucher: My name is Matthew Boucher, and I am running a write-in campaign on June 7 for the two-year term to fill a vacancy, and I would appreciate your vote. On June 7, write in “Matthew Boucher 138 Pease Rd.” – and don’t forget to fill in the circle!
As a lifelong resident of East Longmeadow and graduate of East Longmeadow Public Schools, I love this town, but I am concerned with the town’s direction. The town faces three major issues – our relationship with town managers, strengthening the relationship between the School Committee and Town Council, and maintaining a reasonable budget.
Newly elected Town Councilors will be involved in welcoming a new town manager. It’s no secret Town Council dysfunction has made it difficult to maintain a town manager. This is the result of growing pains from the new Town Charter. I will respect the new town manager and the separation of powers in the Town Charter.
Historically, the Town Council-School Committee relationship has been respectful, but it could be better. Education encompasses half the budget, and the result of the 2021 budget process was disheartening – educating our children is not a burden, especially with social-emotional issues at the forefront. I will interface with the School Committee and advocate for students.
Finally, I will be fiscally responsible while socially aware. I think it is reasonable to ask town departments to reassess expenses, staffing, and contracted services. That said, town councilors need the social awareness to spend money when it’s needed. For example, the high school on a rainy day – water pours from the ceilings! Basic social awareness dictates this needs to be addressed.
Kathleen Hill: The three top issues facing East Longmeadow over the next year are (1) a fiscally conservative budget that provides a high level of service to our residents while not overburdening taxpayers to the point they can no longer afford to live in town. (2) A Master Plan was approved in early 2022. The next step is the formation of a committee that will create the plan’s implementation. We must be prudent guardians of our developed and undeveloped lands addressing land uses, growth management, renewable energy, and regulatory changes going forward. (3) A comprehensive capital plan that identifies and marshals our capital assets; we have aging schools, a shortage of recreational fields to accommodate our children, over-crowded and aging public safety buildings, and deteriorating road conditions.
Anna Jones: The three issues I see facing East Longmeadow in the next year are the hiring of a town manager, long-term budgeting, and public safety. I think that while formulating a budget and providing public safety are issues that are long-lasting and should be at the forefront of Town Council agendas there are certain pieces of each item that are more timely. With the influx of COVID[-19] related funds from the state and federal levels, there is a need to create a plan for the town that allows us to expand services, grow our local economy, support our schools and develop our town departments in a fiscally responsible manner. Additionally, public safety is a key element of all thriving communities. Without a robust public safety network communities are left vulnerable. I would seek to ensure that our fire, police, and emergency response teams are equipped to respond to any and all levels of risk that may present themselves. Finally, I hope that the hiring of a town manager will be completed on a more definitive timeline. Our town has much to offer to potential candidates and I think with the next town manager we can work collectively to move East Longmeadow forward.
Terri Leone: Except in the case of emergencies, the top three issues for EL are:
1. The realization of the staffing and resources as communicated in budget FY 23 (fiscal year 2023). The Town of East Longmeadow will benefit by increasing efficiencies and focusing on employee needs and satisfaction to improve administration and operations throughout departments.
2. The execution of capital planning projects such as Heritage Park and others, as communicated in the capital plan for FY23; to include evaluation and use of American Rescue Plan Act funds to continue to improve infrastructure and complete capital projects in order of priority. This fiscal year is an opportunity to put more resources and research into the long-range goal of a new high school, important for our students and our economic development.
3. The continuing opportunity by the executive and legislative branches of our town government to invite the public’s participation in Town Council meetings as well as other boards and commissions, to encourage our citizens to develop our town together.
Ralph Page: The first issue is the hiring of a town manager. Our current town manager has done a remarkable job. Our next town manager will be tasked with bringing the town forward by working to achieve goals and visions set out by the Town Council.
The second issue is our infrastructure/capital projects. Our roadways, especially our main roads, are in need of new asphalt not just patching. Our residents should be able to drive down the roadways without having to swerve around potholes. We also have the high school project working its way through the system. Whether it is a new high school or a major remodel it is a large expense that the town needs to be prepared to undertake. The council will also be looking at the possibility of expanding our fiber optic internet service to all residents. I am excited to look at this possibility as it has the potential to allow multiple service providers in town while increasing internet speeds and potentially decreasing monthly fees.
Taxes and the cost of living in East Longmeadow. The Town Council needs to maintain a balance of providing services to the residents without the cost being so high that our residents can no longer afford to live here. We need to continue looking at other funding sources for our projects.
Samuel Stoughton: The national economy, performing poorly, is affecting us locally. The home values have risen sharply and the cost in taxes is hard for many families in East Longmeadow. The tax rates may not have risen but the tax burden to residents has increased, and the town will have to consider reducing costs, expenses and projects like our own family budgets.
Voters also feel increasingly disconnected from the Town Council and local government. In a recent Town Council meeting, our councilors unanimously voted down a measure that would have given voters more decisions over our Health Department and over removing a poor representative/appointee. Since we have begun meeting on Zoom, the meetings turn off public comment after the beginning of the meeting and effectively silence any further comments or suggestions as the business develops. Our former public town meetings were essential to being heard. Why is the Town Council still meeting virtually when other town committees are meeting in person?
The quality of life in East Longmeadow will continue to be the third and potentially exciting issue. We have improvements in green space, rail trail extension, fiber optic internet enhancements, and events like parades, gatherings, fairs, fireworks, and holidays.
Reminder Publishing: What characteristics are you hoping to see in the next town manager?
Boucher: Our next town manager needs to hit the ground running, which means a capability to manage multiple projects and an approachability for Town Councilors and residents alike. Ensuring the next town manager has knowledge of finance and municipal operations will enable them to balance the town’s fiscal and social responsibilities. The new town manager needs to understand that some large capital projects are in our future, along with the importance of a reasonable tax rate.
Hill: On the heels of a very popular retiring manager, the next individual to lead our town should have strong communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively with employees and the public, to capitalize on the high workplace morale that exists and to ensure its continuance. It is critical that the new manager has a genuine and transparent management style and demonstrate a deep understanding of municipal finance, municipal law and the ability to seeks grant opportunities and external sources of revenue to enhance the town’s services.
Jones: I think the next town manager should be a strong leader with experience in fiscal management. I think this person should have skills to collaborate with department heads so they can work together to accomplish their goals. Lastly, I think the town manager should strive for the betterment and growth of the town but always keep its character in mind.
Leone: I hope and expect to see a town manager who is organized to manage top priorities, brings collaborative energy to work with department heads, has municipal experience and passion, and who brings a strategic long-term vision to the role.
Page: I will be looking for someone with experience, education and a proven track record of leading a town. The town manager will need to work closely with the Town Council. Someone with good communication skills and a leader and negotiator. The town manager is tasked with a lot of responsibilities and will need to be able to manage their time well.
Stoughton: I would like to see local candidates for town manager. We have qualified residents. I do not feel that prior experience is necessary for the right candidate. The right candidate needs to be able to manage, organize, and present information to the town in easy-to-understand language. Sometimes the town manager may need to be a coach and encourage development of staff and committees and recruit more residents to join the process of local business.
Reminder Publishing: What makes you uniquely suited to serve on the Town Council?
Boucher: As a lifelong resident with roots in the community and plans to stay, I promise to use my education and skills to advocate for all residents. I have a BA from Western New England University and will soon receive my MBA from Western Governors University. Additionally, I have work experience advocating for clients to the Connecticut General Assembly and I will do the same for town residents. I believe the job of a town councilor is to communicate the needs and desires of residents to the town manager, because residents don’t have the time to do it themselves. I’ll work assiduously to communicate all concerns to the town manager and other town councilors – I work for you!
On June 7, write in “Matthew Boucher 138 Pease Rd.” for the two-year Town Council term to fill a vacancy – and don’t forget to fill out the circle! Thank you!
Hill: I have had the privilege of serving on the council since its inception in 2016. During that tenure, I have chaired the Licensing Subcommittee, and have been a member of the Financial Oversight Committee. I understand municipal budgeting, facilities management, by-law development, community planning and the ability to balance ‘wants verses needs’ in developing a responsible and manageable tax rate for our residents. Prior to my service on the council, I enjoyed 21 years as a teacher and then middle school principal at Birchland Park. I hold two advanced graduate degrees in leadership and educational administration. The skill set of an educational leader is very closely aligned to those skills a councilor must employ and it has served me well. I have a strong work ethic and have the time to devote to a councilor’s workload. If re-elected, I will continue to give the same level of commitment and dedication to the residents of East Longmeadow.
Jones: I am suited for the position of Town Council because I am invested in this town. I am passionate about helping this town prosper and possess the skills to make it happen. I am a lifelong resident and take great pride in my town and there is nothing I want more than to see East Longmeadow flourish. That passion along with my professional experience of working with state and federal fiscal agencies will help guide the way.
Leone: I have an open-minded ability to weigh the differing opinions of citizens, experts, and data in the responsibilities vested by the Town Charter as a member of the Town Council. I understand the importance of listening, and I have the drive to act on behalf of our town’s people. I have experience with evaluating corporate decisions in a variety of settings. I employ critical thinking skills to research, deliberate, and vote on matters that will impact our town and community.
I would appreciate each vote – and thank you in advance to those supporting my campaign.
Page: I am a lifelong resident of the town and a proud graduate of East Longmeadow High School, class of 1982. I have owned and operated Page Landscaping in East Longmeadow for 40 years. During this time, I served for two years as the president of the East Longmeadow small business association. I have served on many town boards and committees including being elected to a five-year term on the Planning Board, serving as chairman my final year. I was elected to serve on the Charter Commission and five years later was appointed to serve on the Charter Review Committee. As a town councilor I have served on the Bylaw Review Committee and the Planning Matters Subcommittee. I am uniquely suited to serve as a councilor because I can look at situations from many perspectives: resident, businessman, Planning Board member, town councilor and Charter Committee member. As a past Charter Committee member and current town councilor, I am aware that the job of the Town Council is overseeing the town manager and the town budget and not running the town. I understand the challenges facing our town and our residents.
I am asking for your vote on June 7 so I can continue working to make East Longmeadow the best that it can be.
Stoughton: My family and I have been residents of East Longmeadow for over 12 years and have seen a lot of changes and drama in our local government. I offer myself as a different voice in a council that sees little disagreement or active discussion. I would say that there is little diversity of ideas or opinions in the meetings that we monitor. I think a new voice and I would like to bring the town back into the discussion with some public meetings as well. We need to be heard clearly.
School Committee
The candidates running for School Committee are Aimee Dalenta, incumbent Antonell Raschilla and Carlos Rios.
Reminder Publishing: What are the three most important issues facing the school district in the next year?
Aimee Dalenta: a. Adapting to a post-[coronavirus] pandemic way of teaching and learning an issue that our school district is facing this year. This is an overarching concern that encompasses many issues, from supporting the schools as they navigate staffing shortages, to supporting students and teachers as they recover from the distressing event that was COVID-19.
b. Developing a forward-thinking mindset regarding the new East Longmeadow High School (ELHS) is another important issue. As early as 2023, East Longmeadow residents will vote to approve a tax increase that will be necessary to support the construction of the new ELHS. As a School Committee member, I see it as paramount to help facilitate a proactive public conversation about the benefits of a new high school.
c. Finally, our district is facing budgetary concerns. Over the past two years, this town has decreased the number of school personnel, and the School Committee is currently working towards bringing back the positions that were lost. I believe that continuing to foster a positive working relationship with Town Council members and continuing to advocate on behalf of students and teachers will help to balance the needs of the school department with the financial best interest of the town.
Antonella Raschilla: Social-emotional learning: Many students were impacted by the (coronavirus) pandemic and required students to receive support with their mental health. As a district we need to make sure our students are receiving any support they need not just academically but also mentally.
Supporting students academically post-COVID-19:As a community we needed to come together and make decisions that supported the town during the pandemic. We now need to try and fill any of those gaps to help support our students, staff, families, and schools so that we can get back on track to support our students academically. This may include curriculum, professional development and hiring more support staff.
New high school: In the past year we have built momentum with the beginning stages of the new high school. The town approved the feasibility study and we have been receiving updates at each School Committee meeting. I am excited to see the progress we can make in the next few years.
Carlos Rios: In my opinion, the three most important issues facing the school district in the next year are:
1. The previous year’s COVID-19 response and the lack of parental involvement in the decision-making process is very concerning to me. At the time guidelines were offered by DESE (Department of Education and Secondary Education), not mandates. The School Committee chose to mask everyone without consideration for the parent’s ability to choose what was best for their child. Now a mental health crisis has been identified among middle schoolers and high schoolers with an increase in suicides, drug abuse, and depression. Among younger children there has been a significant decrease in their cognitive, language, and social development. I believe there is a direct correlation to these issues and the school district’s response to COVID-19. The parents know what is best for their child and should be allowed to have a voice. If a parent wants their child to wear a mask, that is their choice.
2. I am concerned about CRT (Critical Race Theory) and SEL (Social Emotional Learning) being embedded in all school curriculum. My belief is that these theories are vessels of racism and division. As a father of mixed-race children, I am offended by this curriculum. Too much time is taken away from learning to conduct social emotional learning surveys. Children are sent to school to learn, and the schools should be focusing on a proper education which includes subjects such as reading, writing, civics, math, science, and language.
3. The LGBQ+ (lesbian gay, bisexual, queer or questioning plus) and CSE (Comprehensive Sexualized Education) agenda. This agenda shouldn’t even be a discussion at the grade school level. If it is even discussed it should only be in the higher grades when the kids have the emotional maturity and intellect to comprehend the issue. Also, these discussions should only occur at the discretion of and with the permission of the parents.
Reminder Publishing: Increased numbers of school choice students were recently approved for the 2022-2023 school year. Each school choice student brings $5,000 of revenue to the district. Is school choice a good way to bolster enrollment numbers and fund the district?
Dalenta: School choice has obvious fiscal benefits to the host district, but the overall benefits of school choice far exceed the financial ones. Many may not be aware that a high percentage of parents who exercise school choice options are most frequently doing so because of school safety considerations: they believe that their children are unsafe in their current school. These families may come from lower socioeconomic households in surrounding towns and welcoming everyone warmly into East Longmeadow benefits not only these families, but families who reside here.
While increasing our school choice participation will benefit taxpayers in town, it will also benefit our students. School choice has been shown by the National Bureau of Economic Research to reduce cases of racial and economic segregation. In one study, it was revealed that school choice naturally turns predominantly white schools into more diversified schools. As we continue to evolve into a district with inclusivity at the core of our mission, I fully support the expansion of school choice.
Raschilla: School choice does increase enrollment numbers in grade levels that are lower and brings money into the district. It also provides opportunities for kids to attend our school district and gives our current students opportunities to meet and get to know other kids from surrounding towns.
Rios: Regarding the question about school choice, in our town we had approximately 180 students that were not enrolled in the 2021-2022 school year. Why is that? Our focus should be on bringing those students back. They say our town will receive $5,000 for each child educated through the program. I have heard that it would cost over three times that amount per child. The $5000 revenue from the school choice does not cover theses costs. Where does the extra money come from? The taxpayers?
Reminder Publishing: What makes you uniquely qualified to sit on the School Committee?
Dalenta: I am uniquely qualified to sit on the School Committee because of my commitment to the children of this town. I am a parent to three school aged children and a lifelong educator. I am a published researcher and full-time college professor with a doctorate in education. I have an extensive background in curriculum development and teaching pedagogy, with translates into a deep understanding of how children learn and how we, as a town, can support the growth and development of every student in our district. I am running for the School Committee to serve my community during an exciting time of progress. With a new high school on the horizon, our town is in need of strong leadership and a refreshed perspective on the committee. Thank you for writing in Aimee Dalenta!
Raschilla: I think my experience as an educator in secondary education for the past 16 years makes me uniquely qualified. I have had different positions in education as an ELA (English language arts) teacher, an instructional coach, and now an administrator so that I can bring different perspectives when making decisions on the school committee.
Another reason that makes me unique is that I have been on the School Committee for the past three years. The past three years have been a huge learning experience from working mainly on the school budget and collaborating with other committees – ELEEF (East Longmeadow Educational Endowment Fund), ELEA (East Longmeadow Education Association) contract negotiations, New Building Committee. I have learned a lot being on the committee through the (coronavirus)pandemic and working with other experienced committee members. I am looking forward to seeing what the next three years will bring and serving the East Longmeadow community if I am elected again.
Rios: I am qualified to sit on the School Committee because I am a citizen, taxpayer and parent. My wife and I pulled our oldest son out of the high school because of the COVID[-19] response as well as the emerging critical race theory (CRT), social-emotional learning (SEL) and comprehensive sexual education (CSE) agendas that were gradually being implemented. As parents, we did not feel like our concerns were being heard. I would like to be the voice for the parents, I will listen to their concerns because I know what it is like to not be heard, and I would like to be able to fix the problems in the school system.