Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Wray appointed to School Committee seat

Armand Wray was appointed to the School Committee last Monday, filling the seat left vacant by Robert Barkett. He was sworn in by Town Clerk Katherine Ingram. Wray has said that the School Committee serves as "the custodians of the taxpayers' trust." Reminder Publications photo by Courtney Llewellyn
By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW Ten months ago, Armand Wray began his bid to become a member of the School Committee. He was among four residents who were looking to be appointed to a seat left vacant by Jim Nittoli in September 2007, but he was not chosen for that seat.

In June, he ran against five other contenders for three open seats on the School Committee, but came in fourth. At that same election, however, School Committee member Robert Barkett was elected to the Select Board and therefore had to vacate his seat on the committee.

On July 28, the Select Board and the School Committee unanimously approved of Wray as the newest appointee to fill Barkett's seat. Wray and Christopher Mahoney were both looking to gain the appointment.

"We were blessed to have two impressive candidates," School Committee member Rob Aseltine said at the joint meeting.

"My hard efforts have paid off," Wray told Reminder Publications. Upon his appointment to the School Committee, he was sworn in by town clerk Katherine Ingram and immediately went into executive session with the two groups to discuss collective bargaining.

"It's a very different experience on the other side of the table," Wray noted. He said that he plans to use his financial skills to the best of his abilities for the town, focus on work with the Massachusetts School Building Authority and look at the need for a health curriculum at the high school. "I know we're in difficult economic times, but I aim to look into [a health program]," Wray said.

The newest member of the School Committee earned a bachelor of arts in political science from Siena College and a master of business administration from Roosevelt University. He works as the Sales Operations Leader for Sun Life Financial Professional Insurance Company.

He and his wife have been residents of Longmeadow since June 2006 but his oldest daughter, who will be a third grader at Center School this fall, has been attending school in town since kindergarten.

"With school choice, we had the experience of the schools but not of the town," Wray said. "We wanted that."

In addition to his eight-year-old daughter, he has a three-year-old who will be starting at Longmeadow Montessori this fall and he and his wife are expecting a son in November.

"I hope to make an impact in the next year [on the School Committee] and gain the trust of our residents," Wray stated. "I plan to learn as much as I can in the next 11 months and prove I should be the one there for them."

He added that he's looking forward to working with the School Committee and thanked both the committee and the Select Board for choosing him.

Wray plans on running for a position on the School Committee during the town's elections next June.

"He's a great addition to the committee and he's truly demonstrated his desire and commitment to be a part of it," School Committee Chair Christine Swanson said. "He's been so involved in the past year. He was really able to step up and participate quickly [during his first meeting]."

The next School Committee meeting is scheduled for Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. in the School Committee room at Longmeadow High School.