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Date: 10/19/2021
AGAWAM – A contested race for the School Committee will take place on Nov. 2.
There are 10 candidates competing for six seats. Candidates are incumbents Shelley M. Borgatti-Reed, Dawn M. Dube, Kerri A. O’Connor and Wendy T. Rua, along with challengers Edward R. Champigny, A.J. Christopher, Stephen C. Davis, Robert Lawler, Catherine McDougal and Michael Donald Perry.
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 Agawam schools. Below are their responses, organized in alphabetical order by last name.
RP: Why have you decided to run for School Committee/re-election?
Borgatti-Reed: I am extremely passionate about serving on the School Committee as I am currently serving my seventh term. I am proud to say that I have only missed one School Committee meeting in the past 14 years. I am a life-long resident of Agawam, graduating from Agawam High School in 1978. I attended Holyoke Community College earning an Associate’s Degree in Legal Secretarial Science and hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University. I am retired from the Department of Defense where I worked for 38 years.
I want to continue to be an advocate for not only the children but also the parents and excellent teachers we have in our district, addressing their concerns and encouraging strong communication. I feel my knowledge and experience over the years allows me to work toward achieving educational excellence and serve in the best interest of the children.
Champigny: My decision to run for School Committee was from what I heard from parents I interviewed here in Agawam. There is much unhappiness.
Christopher: I personally have a deep passion for our public schools. I understand the impact of the board, not only as a homeowner but as a former student. My life was shaped and improved by the teachers I had, students I interacted with, and the quality of programs that were available to me in school. I want to be a part of a school board that will lift up the quality of education available to all our students, and I want the community to be involved in that process, every step of the way.
One area I feel strongly about is that not every child wants or is able to pursue a college degree. According to Mass DOE approximately 75 percent of high school seniors went on to college. This leaves 1 in 4 of our children finishing high school with no real path or exposure to opportunities. Non-traditional college path education like automotive technology, cosmetology, electrician, HVAC, culinary skills, plumbing, dental and medical assistants, to name several, should be considered for students and establish curriculum to expose our students to these skill sets.
Davis: I am running for School Committee first and foremost because I have a vested interest in the decisions that the committee makes, having two young kids currently in the school system (kindergarten and third grade). I think it's very important to have parents of kids in the schools on the School Committee. Over the past couple of years, it felt that not all decisions were being made with the best interest of a majority of the kids in mind. If elected I would hope to be a voice for all parents and the kids in our schools.
Dube: I have decided to seek re-election for Agawam School Committee for a few reasons. First, I want to see the school system continue to make improvements to help set all our children up for success in their future. Whether they choose a four- or two-year college, the military, a trade school or the workforce…they all deserve time and dedication from individuals who want to see them succeed. I also will continue to question the validity of standardized testing, such as MCAS, as I believe not every student’s educational achievement is measured equally with such tests. Second, I want to continue to be a voice for our constituents. I am available and approachable. I listen, I hear, and I speak the voices of the Agawam residents when it concerns children and their education.
Lawler: Three reasons led to my decision to run for a position on the Agawam School Committee. First, I think all citizens – especially parents – should be willing to offer their time and effort in service to the school system and the larger community. Second, as a former police officer and as a current high school teacher with the Department of Youth Services, I believe I bring personal experience in the two areas where Agawam Public Schools have traditionally excelled: safety and educational quality. Mostly, I would like to serve as a counterweight to some board members who, during the pandemic, were all too willing to substitute their own judgement for those of parents.
McDougal: I am running for School Committee because I believe high quality education is essential to the future of our children and our community. I want to be part of building Agawam’s future and I want to give back to the community that I have lived in for the past 13 years. My son just started third grade and he’s so excited to be back in the classroom this year. I hope that by working together, we can make the improvements our schools need so that the current generation of students continues to benefit from the same high-quality education that their older siblings and parents received.
O’Connor: I am seeking for re-election to the school community because I am a strong advocate and supporter of our students/staff and community. I am passionate about our public schools. I am a 1995 Agawam graduate, and my son is a junior in high school, of the Agawam Public Schools. Based on my personal and professional experience, I believe that every student has the potential to succeed in life whether through vocational, college, military, and/or employment opportunities. I am a Gulf War veteran who served overseas to ensure the safety and welfare of the American people. My priority is always the safety and welfare of our students, parents/caregivers, and school community. I take an oath of office seriously and I deliver. I am presently on the safety sub-committee and negotiations committee and in my first term, I was on the budget committee, along with being a delegate for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. I do not stay silent and always am available to listen to our parents/students/school community when there is a need of resources, strengths, questions, and/or concerns. I have a master’s degree in science of psychology and a bachelor of science in criminal justice. I am a certified youth mental health first aid instructor, appointed member of the Veterans Council, Lions Club member, American Legion member, and coalition member for the Partners 4 Youth in Substance Abuse Prevention. I am also a board member of a local 501c non-profit that supports those who struggle with substance abuse. I have years of professional work experience providing mental health and educational advocacy supporting youth and families in the areas of education, mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, grief support, veteran resources, trauma, employment and college opportunities, financial and housing support. I presently work in the field of education within a school district providing ongoing resources for mental health and community resources, and very active within the Agawam community.
Perry: My name is Michael Perry and I’m a first-time candidate for Agawam School Committee. As a long-time Agawam resident who attended Agawam public schools and graduated from AHS in 1995, I now have two children attending school here in town. I have a vested interest in the decisions made by our School Committee because they affect my kids and our family, and I believe parents of current students should be strongly represented in those decisions. It has been many years since a dad of kids enrolled in the Agawam public school system was a member of our School Committee, and I want to fill that role while advocating for all students and their parents.
Rua: I'm a graduate of AHS, a lifelong Agawam resident and now a parent of three boys. As a parent, I know what it feels like to attend a band concert, cheer at a football game, share pride in moving up moments and cry as my child crosses the stage at high school graduation. But I also know the concern about whether my child is fitting in, the wondering about whether the academics are meeting my child's educational needs and the worry in today’s world about whether my child is safe. I have had the willingness and strong commitment to support and strengthen our students, teachers and families by voting for less testing, the reduction of unpaid mandates, the establishment of a safety committee and so much more. I have had the confidence to make difficult decisions. I have had the willingness to ask questions and defend strong policy. And most of all, I put people over politics.
RP: What issues have you seen within the school district that you wish to address?
Borgatti-Reed: As everyone knows, these past two years have been the most difficult. Dealing with the pandemic and how is it affecting our district has been very challenging. It resulted in the disruption of the traditional school day and year; caused growing concerns of students, families and the community; and continues to cause a growing number of issues that affect our district. I want to address those issues with the parents, teachers, and students and work toward getting back to normal in our schools as soon as possible, as the students deserve that.
Champigny: My biggest issue is the attitude of hate that I am hearing from the kids. One parent pulled her kids out of school. She said the teacher is toxic. Some kids find it offensive to be asked about their gender every week. The classroom is anti-American.
Christopher: This shouldn’t be about measuring issues in hindsight. Looking back and judging an issue after the fact is Monday morning quarterbacking. It is simply not productive. This is a time for reinvigorating the school system and the community. We have a new superintendent, who was greeted with the sensitive and overwhelming task of managing the system through COVID[-19] restrictions and its impact and deserves credit for steering us through unchartered waters.
We will have new School Committee members (two members not returning). This is a terrific opportunity to take advantage of the fresh eyes on issues and opportunities as we navigate a fresh path. To be a part of that excites and motivates me that is why I ask for just one of your six votes each voter can cast on Nov. 2.
Davis: I think that the district can come a long way with communication and consistency. I know parents in different elementary schools talk about how their kids are learning and it's different from how my kids are learning and that doesn't seem very equitable. I would think that when the kids all go to the middle school (for example) they should all be at a similar learning point. I also feel that the School Committee could be more transparent on issues and share more information before and after the meetings. This would be helpful for parents and help the overall image of the School Committee. These are things if elected I'd like to learn more about and share that information with parents so they know how things work
Dube: I believe the Agawam School System and its entire staff fulfill their mission to the best of their ability, with the tools and support the town provides. I have two children that have successfully gone through the Agawam school system and I couldn’t be more proud of their career choices. I credit the Agawam school system for the academic support it gave them. I believe their education gave them the knowledge and tools they need to move successfully forward. My daughter graduated from a four-year college and my son went into the trades. I support giving students every opportunity they need to make life-long decisions concerning their future. I would like to see more of the “back to basics” type of education and the development of the exposure to trade learning.
Lawler: Agawam already compares very favorably to its neighboring school districts; Agawam graduates have educational outcomes that are consistently superior to their peers in the Greater Springfield area. To build on its past successes, I think it’s important to maintain and improve the district’s school buildings, offer strong scholastic and extracurricular opportunities, and continue to attract and retain exceptional teachers, while also exercising fiscal discipline.
McDougal: One of the greatest challenges facing our school system is outdated facilities. If elected, I will work with the rest of the School Committee to move forward with plans for a new Early Childhood Center, as well as secure funding so that we can equip our buildings with essentials like screens for windows, and fountains with potable water in every building. We also need a new building for our high school so we can provide the necessary infrastructure to support 21st century learning and technology. Improving our facilities will help us retain current students and families as well as draw new families to the town.
O’Connor: 1. I will advocate to prioritize social/emotional and mental health well-being of our students due to the impact that the pandemic has had on students and families. 2. I will not tolerate any harassment/bullying of our students, teachers, families, and the community as a whole regarding political views, race, gender, identity, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation. 3. I will continue to support the community who are pro-active and who are role models to our children. 4. I will advocate for ongoing resources of prevention of substance abuse issues within our school community. 5. I will advocate for transparency within the school district. 6. I will advocate for resources for our teachers and prioritize our teachers/school staff wellbeing. 7. I will advocate for increased community service opportunities for our students to build life/employability skills. 8. I will advocate for effective teamwork and increased positive culture within our school district. 9. I will advocate for renovations for our Agawam High School and ongoing renovations within our school buildings.
Perry: With the ongoing public health issues related to the COVID-19 virus, we must consider the state and local protocols and their effect on our students and school staff. Although our town has adopted the “Test and Stay” program which is intended to reduce the amount of time students spend out of the classroom this year, we must have a reasonable and effective plan in place to provide those who are forced out of school buildings with the means to keep pace with classmates. We must also ensure that our schools are adequately staffed to provide students with the highest quality education possible in the event that there are absences among our teacher and staff population.
Beyond the obvious need to continuously provide the highest quality education possible for our students, we must also focus on extracurricular activities to ensure our students are receiving a well-rounded and meaningful school experience. Robust arts, sports, and music programs in addition to other extracurricular programs and activities can help keep students engaged in their school community while promoting success later in life.
Rua: One of my top priorities is to continue to strive for a new high school. Our children deserve to learn in a building with updated technology, upgraded science labs and rooms that do not require air purifiers to assure people are breathing clean air. Another goal is to continue to advocate for trade and tech avenues that support the growth and development for our students that desire vocational opportunities. And from our littlest preschool learners to our high school seniors, we have a responsibility to address social-emotional needs and equity issues.
RP: What has been learned from the pandemic and how can local communities work better with the state?
Borgatti-Reed: We have learned quite a bit from the pandemic. It forced us to make decisions and compromises and forced us to deal with a lot of unknowns. I think the state should allow the individual school districts to make decisions based on what is best for them. Keeping our children safe and dealing with this pandemic should not be political. Every school district is different as far as the pandemic goes just as every state is different. We should be allowed to make decisions along with our mayor, Health Dept and parents on what is best for the children of Agawam and what we as a community need to do to keep them safe.
Champigny: Pertaining to the pandemic, people have the right to choose.
Christopher: What we have actually witnessed is that many communities were ready to act but waited for the commonwealth to weigh in. We need to better understand, and continue to learn, the role the state has and what role our local community has in addressing and managing the pandemic. Going forward, we can be more proactive at the local level to ensure and preserve the safety of the students as well as their extended families and then adjust accordingly when the commonwealth issues their mandates or guidelines.
This isn’t just an issue because of the pandemic. It is critical that the commonwealth be more efficient and timely in their communication with local communities on all matters. There needs to be a more regular and consistent communication path between our elected state representatives and our School Committee. I intend to be in constant and regular communication with both [state] Rep. [Nicholas] Boldyga and [state] Sen. [John] Velis to ensure our voice is being echoed at the State House.
Davis: I've learned that proper representation in a group such as the School Committee is important even during “quiet times” because you never know when an important issue will arise. I think that we can work better with the state by keeping communication open and civil.
Dube: What I learned from the pandemic is that children of all ages need the social/emotional development and exposure that in person schooling and extracurricular activities outside of school (ie: sports, arts, and the like) provide. Also, I personally believe that the metrics and measures put in place by the higher ups in the state were based on fear more than science. The fact that hypocrisy still exists when the government is making choices regarding health issues and procedures for children other than their own, infuriates me. I personally believe that parents have the last word to how and when medical decisions are made for their children. However, what I learned as a school committee member is that there are rules to follow and even though we don’t personally agree or support every single one, there is more involved than our own personal feelings. I will continue to make sure your voices are heard.
Lawler: My experience in education has given me some very mixed opinions on the state’s department of education. I think DESE often tries to promulgate regulations that serve little more than bureaucratic bloat. They pose undue burdens on districts and teachers. Too often, the state tries to impose one-size-fits all solutions that are required of districts and teachers in urban and rural districts that fail to take into account the unique challenges administrators and teachers face. DESE generates far more paperwork than it does proactive educational solutions. The school board should work with state legislators to remedy this.
McDougal: I think we have learned don’t put off until tomorrow what you needed to fix yesterday. At the same time, when communities are forced to respond to a crisis solely out of their own resources, decisions are made based on what can realistically be funded, rather than what makes the most sense for the community. The phrase “unfunded mandate” has been around for decades and has taken on new significance over the past 18 months, and we have seen what happens when school districts are not allowed to be part of decisions being made at the state or federal level. As a member of the School Committee, I will work with my colleagues to stay abreast of pending legislation and actively communicate our concerns and positions to lawmakers at both the state and national level. As a private citizen, I like to stay informed on pending legislation and I'm not shy about calling my lawmakers with questions or concerns. I am ready to bring that same energy to the School Committee and to advocate for the needs of our district to lawmakers at all levels of government.
O’Connor: We as a School Committee have learned to adapt very quickly as well as our school community. Since the onset of the pandemic, I have been called to serve, support, and listen regarding endless hours of phone calls with parents/caregivers, legislators, and attended several sub-committee meetings with the administration, teacher’s union, safety sub-committee and supporting our community throughout the pandemic. The priority became the safety and welfare of our students and community regarding the health of our students/staff and community. What we have learned first and foremost was ensuring safety measures were put into place to protect our students.
Also, our students were greatly affected with significant mental health needs by the impact of the several transitions that occurred, i.e., to multiple pivots of our children being in and out of school due to ongoing increased cases within our schools. I have been working in the field servicing our students and families who have been greatly impacted by the pandemic from the beginning and have provided mental health resources, delivered food and other resource to families who were quarantined, unemployed, and continued to provide support for families who lost loved ones, and most importantly, I was and am always there 24/7 when needed. I learned that COVID-19 greatly affected so many students/families as I was a direct witness and continued to support those in need and did not engage in political agendas from others.
We as a school district can do better reaching out to our state officials and advocate on a state level for the best interest of our school community. Our staff/parents learned new technology platforms in record-breaking time, and all of our students now have a 1-to-1 electronic device. It’s imperative that our local community come together as a whole and work as a team and be able to agree to disagree in a respectful manner and be role models within our community instead of working against each other.
Perry: One of the most significant things we’ve learned from this pandemic is how school closures can have a negative effect on the emotional and behavioral well-being of our children, in addition to the educational regression being seen in our schools. The health and safety of our students and staff should always be our top priority however we must also consider the negative consequences of critical decisions such as closing schools. Decisions about these issues must be made with great care and with the well-being of our students and staff at the forefront. Unfortunately, we witnessed how invasive politics can be when intertwined with our public education system and I believe there should be absolute separate between the two.
As a parent and private member of the public throughout the pandemic, I have not been privy to many details involving the communication between our district and the state education authorities. However, as with all parents in this town, I watched as our state education officials offered confusing and often conflicting guidance which was presented in a universal manner. State-wide mandates do not consider factors which are relevant to local conditions and could place unnecessary burdens on districts. We watched as politicians and political organizations used their influence to guide policies, while parents were largely ignored in decisions which directly affected their children. Therefore, I believe local communities should ask state authorities to offer guidance on issues such as public health concerns, and allow local districts to decide what policies and procedures are appropriate given local conditions. I believe parents, school administrators, school staff, local health authorities and the community are best suited to make local decisions.
Rua: The pandemic has reminded us that there is no substitute for in-person learning and that the role of teachers in our community should be held in no less than the highest regard. The pandemic has created a rise in mental health concerns, a gap in learning, overwhelming anxiety and strong feelings about highly politicized issues. We should turn that energy for advocacy toward our state officials and demand that they do a better job in the future of communicating in a timely, effective and purposeful way with us. I serve on several state level committees through the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and believe that politics has no place in our schools and I will continue to advocate and to remind state officials to put students first.
RP: How will you address parents’/guardians’ concerns with decisions made by the School Committee?
Borgatti-Reed: Decisions by the School Committee are sometimes very difficult especially during the past year due to the pandemic. Most parents and teachers have strong opinions and we need to allow them the opportunity to express them without interruption. We also need to work with the parents and teachers as sometimes we are forced to make decisions that we don’t always agree on. We need to ensure all parties understand why the decisions are made as we are all in this together and we all share a common goal.
Champigny: I will address parents’ concerns with the truth. I will side with the parent.
Christopher: Though decisions made by the School Committee do impact parents, they also impact all residents of Agawam. It is important to all residents of Agawam how our school system is managed. As a School Committee member, I am determined to seek out input from parents and residents on a regular basis, not just when items of interest or controversy come up. This is my commitment to the voters and residents of Agawam:
• Become fully knowledgeable on all business that comes on front of me as a School Committee member on any agenda item, no matter how large or small the impact.
• Research and gather facts, information and insight on each item.
• Assess and evaluate all information collectively to fully understand the possible impact and result of a decision.
• Determine the best decision, based on the information provided and stand by my decision.
Before I can address anyone’s issues or concerns, I have to be fortunate enough to be elected. This is why I ask for one of your six votes for School Committee on Nov 2.
Davis: I would address parents/guardians' concerns by openly discussing the issues with them and explaining why things were done the way they were. You may not be able to make them happy with the problem they have but hopefully help them understand why a decision was made.
Dube: I have always been honest. I have always been approachable and respectful of any parent/guardian or Agawam educator that has reached out with comments and/or concerns. I will most certainly continue to do so. I welcome any and all thoughts and concerns presented to me.
Lawler: I will always solicit parent input of committee deliberations and decisions. Failure by some of the current members to do so, or their active rejection of parents’ input, is what has led me to run for the position in the first place.
McDougal: While the School Committee is made up of individuals, we must act together as a body when making policy decisions. As an individual member of the school committee, I will listen to the concerns of parents/guardians with empathy and compassion and pass those concerns along to the rest of the Committee to act on as needed.
O’Connor: We as a School Committee have an obligation to serve as we all have sworn in to do so. I was elected by my constituents for a reason, and that reason is to always be available as I was elected to do so. I will always invite parents and have met with several parents/guardians 1 on 1 in person and/or virtually to listen to their concerns. I will always encourage parents to call me directly if there is a concern, and I would like to see more parents/guardians engaged with speaking to us directly and/or attending citizen speak time during School Committee meetings, and not only on social medial platforms. I will provide education to parents/guardians what are roles are as school committee members. I encourage all to contact me directly and ask questions as to my voting stance. I want to thank all of my voters who believe in me to continue to be a strong voice and supporter for the Agawam Public Schools. I respectfully ask for your vote on Nov. 2 to continue to serve.
Perry: This is perhaps the topic I look most forward to with the prospect of being elected to the School Committee. As the parent of two children currently enrolled in the district, I have been intimately involved in the school community for the past 10 years. Since the pandemic began last spring, I have made a strong effort to connect with other parents/guardians to help provide a voice in decisions affecting our children. I strongly believe that parents and guardians should have a significant role in these decisions and I encourage all parents/guardians to participate in the process. By remaining open to all communication from parents and guardians, as well as input from our amazing teachers and staff, I believe we can provide the most effective educational experience for our children. I encourage all parents and guardians to communicate their questions, concerns, and ideas with School Committee members and take an active role in the educational experience of their children. I would also encourage parents/guardians to provide feedback on decisions made. As an elected official I believe I would have an obligation to listen to all parent/guardian feedback objectively, consider that input when making decisions on behalf of their children, and respond appropriately to any concerns after decisions have been made.
Rua: When I first ran for School Committee, it was because I wanted the parent voice to genuinely be heard. I was tired of being told that parents were apathetic or only showed up when there was a volatile issue. Transparency is a word that means nothing unless it is actually demonstrated by actions taken, and I do not hide my opinions, nor ignore those of others. Never has there been a year where communication has mattered as much as this past year! I have responded to every email sent to me, returned every phone call made and even stopped in the middle of the aisle at Stop & Shop every time a parent approached me with a question or a concern. My votes do not reflect my personal opinions, but the opinions of the constituents that I represent. Thank you for your consideration and your vote on November 2. I have been honored to serve as your school committee member and welcome conversation at any time – wrua@agawamed.org Thank you, Agawam.
Polls will be open on Nov. 2 for in-person voting from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For information on polling locations by precinct, visit https://www.agawam.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/1573/2021-POLITICAL-CALENDAR or contact the Town Clerk’s Office.
In addition to absentee ballots, which require the voter to show a medical, religious or travel-based need, Massachusetts has extended no-excuse voting by mail to town elections this year. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 27. The U.S. Postal Service recommends allowing up to seven days for ballot delivery. A drop box for ballots has been installed in front of the Agawam Town Hall. Voters using the drop box should place their ballots in the brown envelope, sign it and may return it in the drop box, which is checked throughout the day. For more information on absentee or early voting, visit https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleabsentee/absidx.htm.
Editor's note: Because of a miscommunication, Kerri O’Connor’s responses were not available at press time and did not appear in the Oct. 21 printed edition of this story, or the original web edition. This article has been updated to include O’Connor’s answers.