Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 10/30/2023
HOLYOKE — The two at-large candidates for School Committee on this year’s city election ballot squared off on Oct. 19 inside of Holyoke High School as the Holyoke Taxpayers Association hosted the event leading up to the November 7 election.
Incumbent Erin Brunelle and newcomer Luissette Arroyo Rosado both expressed their ideas on the best direction forward for the district and each opened with a introductory statement on why they are the best candidate for the at-large seat.
In her opening statement Arroyo Rosado explained she moved to Holyoke a decade ago from Puerto Rico and made the move to improve the life of her two children, one with autism and the other with ADHD. She said due to her coming to Holyoke and being a Spanish first speaker, she felt she suffered from “institutional abuse” from the district and had lack of assistance from the committee’s in place.
“I had to face the system alone which is why I decided to run to help all those parents who don’t know their rights and suffer from the negligence of Holyoke Public Schools and to know they are not alone. We as the School Committee are there to help them,” said Arroyo Rosado.
Brunelle explained that she is running on the basis that education is the foundation to the community, and her advocacy in her previous terms would be carried through in a new one. A School Committee member for the last decade, Brunelle added in order for the city to thrive, it starts with a strong, stable and equitable school district.
Brunelle added she chairs the School Building Committee and has been involved in the district’s work to secure the new school building as well as fighting to regain control of the district from state receivership.
“It is crucial that we have committee members that are experienced and dedicated to putting in the time, the work and the effort to ensure that the students of Holyoke are provided the best educational experience possible,” Brunelle said.
Getting the district out of state receivership, something both candidates are in favor of, was the topic of the first discussion. Brunelle said it was critical that the district regain control so they can decide their own superintendent, but also honor teachers and paraprofessionals and help regain the bargaining rights they deserve.
“I know currently our paraprofessionals are fighting for a better contract, and unfortunately the whole School Committee currently has no say in any terms that they’re trying to negotiate. It is for these reasons that we need to end receivership now,” Brunelle said.
Arroyo Rosado agreed that the city should seek leaving state receivership as soon as possible and suggested new faces could bring in a new pace to these discussions and better reflect the student population.
“We need to change everything and get another person new to get involved in the community. 80% of students [in the district] right now are Latino and half of the school committee are not,” said Arroyo Rosado.
Another question asked by moderator of the debate Thomas Creed was focused on Holyoke graduation rates. He noted that the 2022 unadjusted four-year high school graduation rate in Holyoke was 75%, including a drop out rate of 13%, and asked the candidates what role they could play in improving this statistic.
Brunelle started her response by saying one of the things most affecting the graduation rate is MCAS testing. She added there is a bill in the state house currently called the Thrive Act, regarding eliminating the high stakes standardized testing and would eliminate receivership in the state.
“Critical to a district like Holyoke, that my opponent did mention is heavily Latino, we have students that come here halfway through high school with English as their second language, who are then expected to be able to take this standardized test that weighs so heavily on their graduation requirements in a language they’re simply not fluent with,” Brunelle said.
Arroyo Rosado said she would use her role on the School Committee to better communicate with teachers on ways to work together in order to improve students learning in the required areas.
“They need more practice, more education after school and I will work with them to improve more after school,” Arroyo Rosado said.
Another topic of debate was on teacher retention where Creed asked the two candidates how they plan to address the district’s 67.3% retention rate of its teachers compared to the state average of 84.6% if they are elected to the committee.
Arroyo Rosado said the current condition of the district was “not very good” under receivership, and getting out makes the district more appealing for teachers to stay. She also added improved support and environment of schools is needed to give more of an incentive for teachers to want to stay in the community.
Brunelle agreed getting out of receivership was the top priority in addressing retention as negotiations on teacher contracts could happen and more feedback and outreach between the district and staff could be had to come to solutions for the issues that make teachers leave the district.
Later in the debate, Brunelle and Arroyo Rosado both were given the opportunity to ask one another a question. Brunelle asked Arroyo Rosado with the ongoing debates on education at a national level and the banning of books in different districts in different states, how did she feel about banning literature in the district.
Arroyo Rosado responded and did not say she would be banning any books but did add she was interested in knowing the type of literature students are reading during school. In return, Arroyo Rosado asked Brunelle that if she were to be elected what would be different in her next term compared to the last decade she spent on the committee.
Brunelle reiterated it all starts with exiting receivership.
“I think the critical thing to know is that we will be exiting receivership within the next four years, which will be returning the role to the School Committee of bargaining rights and budgeting and hiring a superintendent and all of the things a traditional school committee can do,” Brunelle said.
She did add that the district has been fortunate with its state receivers chosen as they have all connected with the committee to listen to concerns on the district.
In closing, Brunelle made her case one more time and added there was nothing better than a community that cares about its public education.
“Education is the foundation to a healthy community, so we need to all pick up our hammers, tighten our belt straps and get more involved,” Brunelle said.
Arroyo Rosado in closing expressed similar sentiments and said if elected she will empower the parents back to the basics within the district.
“If you vote for me I can promise I will be working with you, helping you,” Arroyo Rosado said.
The full debate can be viewed at holyokemedia.org or on the Holyoke Media YouTube page.