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Date: 6/6/2022
MONSON – Three candidates are vying for two seats on the School Committee in the upcoming election on June 14. Candidates include incumbent Colleen Flynn, Edward Maia and Jamie Murphy. The position is a three-year term.
In advance of the election, in an effort to inform voters, Reminder Publishing asked all candidates the same series of questions on their candidacies and visions for Monson. Below are their responses, organized in alphabetical order by last name.
Flynn and Murphy did not respond to questions by press time.
Reminder Publishing (RP): Tell voters about your professional and personal background.
Maia: I have been a resident of Monson since 2004. I have seven-year-old twin boys who attend Monson schools because I believe in them. I am an account manager for a building services company out of Waltham, and I manage several prestigious properties in Boston. I have been with them for 10 years. I am responsible for approximately 100 union and non-union employees and $5 million per year in receivables. I am a hands-on manager who believes the only way to be effective is to get your hands dirty and work to effectively understand how to get things done in a cost-effective way.
RP: Why have you decided to run for this position/re-election?
Maia: I previously held positions on both the school board as well as the Select Board. I left after my twins were born due to the time commitment that I was not able to give at that time. I have also successfully battled terminal cancer and feel that part of rejoining my life is to teach my boys that if you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem. Now that my boys are older, I feel that I need to set the example when I talk about giving back to our community.
RP: What do you see as the three largest issues in the school district? How will you address said issues?
Maia: I would like to see the school department, Finance Committee and the Select Board work together better. I feel that in the last couple of years that cooperation has fallen off and I would like to help heal whatever that disconnect might be. I also would like to see the School Committee work in a more harmonious way with the administrative leadership team. I have witnessed more adversarial meetings in the recent past and not a lot of “working together.”
Lastly, if someone can better understand the budgeting process and can convey that clearly to the Finance Committee, then I think they can establish more trust. I feel that I can do that.
RP: How will you take comments from parents/guardians into consideration in regard to decision making in your position on the School Committee?
Maia: I will always take comments from parents and guardians into consideration; however, they also need to understand that as a committee we need to look at things from an aerial perspective. In other words, we have to see what is best for all the children, taking into consideration union constrictions as well as legal issues surrounding confidentiality.