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Date: 8/16/2023
WEST SPRINGFIELD — There are seven candidates running for six open School Committee seats in West Springfield’s upcoming Nov. 7 election, including incumbents Diana Coyne, Kira Thompson, Colleen Marcus and Kathleen Alevras, as well as former Town Councilor and current School Committee appointee Robert Mancini.
Two newcomers have joined their ranks, vying for a seat on the committee: Mustafa Thompson, a retired police officer with two children in the school system, and Julie Wise, who has corporate retail experience and one child in the system. In an effort to serve readers who may be aware of longtime committee members, Reminder Publishing reached out to the candidates who are running for the first time for details on their desire to run for the committee.
As a former police officer and retired National Guard officer, Thompson has lived all over the country but found a special place in West Springfield. Now, he’s on a mission to enhance the school district one step at a time.
“I have two teenagers, a sophomore and an eighth grader, so I’m familiar with how the schools operate,” said Thompson. While his two children keep him busy, Thompson also has time to care for 12 pets, coach youth basketball, be an active member of the Planning Board and Construction Committee and holds his position as chair of the veterans advisory board and Homefront Strong.
“I want to help students make sure they know their voices aren’t being silenced,” said Thompson. “I want to have every opportunity available for my children and everyone else’s.”
Thompson says that his 25 years in service makes him a candidate that everyone can relate to.
He said he wants to look at the problems that the committee is facing with “fresh eyes.” One way he said he is making sure most needs are met is by walking around town and taking notes on what the public has said they want to see done.
“There is a unique potential in every student,” said Thompson. He wants to focus on setting students up for success in every aspect of their lives, not just academics. “I’m not about handouts but teaching people that if you set someone up for success, they will succeed.”
Thompson holds a BA in psychology and a master's degree in mental health. He is an in-home behavioral service advocate. Thompson said he hopes to invest resources toward accessing the needs of the district, providing more professional development for teachers, and furthering mental health awareness.
“We have a fiscal responsibility to invest in the teachers and students, to make sure they have proper infrastructure and supplies,” said Thompson.
Thompson wants to build upon and learn from lessons in the past.
“In the military and in corporate America, we don’t learn lessons from the past, no one explains the takeaways,” he said. He used the coronavirus pandemic as an example.
“I was so impressed by the way the schools handled the pandemic. Now that we’ve experienced this, we can build upon what happened in case anything of similar nature happens again,” said Thompson. He is currently in contact with current members so that if he gets elected he can hit the ground running.
Julie Wise is also running for School Committee. Originally from Connecticut, Wise moved to West Springfield in 2013 with her husband, Robert. While she has no formal educational background, Wise says that her 20-plus years in corporate retail have provided her with foundational skills that can be applied to this position.
“I’m personally vested in this. My two daughters are in fourth and eighth grade,” said Wise. She noted that the city had such a diverse student body and that “every child is different had has specific needs.”
Wise said she wants to focus on making sure voices are continuing to be heard and that help can be available when needed.
“I want to make sure [staff and administrators] feel empowered to the best of their ability,” said Wise.
Wise coaches soccer for her youngest daughter’s team and said she wants to “build relationships” with the community.