Published in the December 20, 2017 edition
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — A proposed policy change regarding the School Committee’s term limits for chairman and vice chairman led to a tense discussion during last week’s meeting.
School Committee Vice Chairwoman Dorothy Presser, who serves on the Policy Subcommittee, gave an overview of a series of minor changes regarding Section B of the school system’s policy manual, which pertains to board governance and operations. She said the subcommittee proposed eliminating the term limit requirement for chairman and vice chairman. Selectmen Chairman Chris Barrett, who was on the school board at the time, and former School Committeeman Jim Fagan, crafted the policy in September 2013. The policy was passed unanimously.
The relevant section of the policy requires a chairman and vice chairman to be appointed at the committee’s annual reorganization meeting in April. Additionally, the policy states “no member shall hold the same office for longer two years in succession” and “should a member serve for two successive years in any position, he/she will not serve again in that position for a period of one year.”
“We would like to take that language out and have it revert to ‘at the organizational meeting every year, the School Committee has the opportunity to chose the chair they see fit,’” said Presser. “We do it every year and we looked at a lot of policies from other districts. This is aligned to almost all of the other districts we looked at with a couple of exceptions.”
School Committee member Jamie Hayman came out against the policy change.
“I have a real problem with this one,” said Hayman. “It’s really good to have new leadership and leadership changes every few years. I think there is a lot of positive rationale for this, and I haven’t seen anything that we should get rid of a limit of two years. I think it keeps the voices fresh and the perspectives fresh.”
Hayman inquired why the change was proposed.
Superintendent Jane Tremblay said she asked Presser and School Committee member Rich Sjoberg to revisit the policy. She noted she has been working closely with School Committee Chairman Tim Doyle for the past two years.
“I feel like after two years, we are really hitting our stride in terms of working together, knowing each other and being able to move the work forward,” said Tremblay. “I think if it’s less than that, the learning curve of really having to get to know styles and really figuring out how to work together really slows down the work of what you are trying to do as a committee and what I am trying to do as the superintendent.”
Tremblay said it was her preference having the school board decide who should be the chairman at its reorganizational meeting in April.
Hayman disagreed.
“I think it is very unhealthy for a board,” said Hayman. “It has nothing to do with anyone on this committee. For us to grow as a district and having it go in the direction that we want, I think we need to be pushing each other and pushing the superintendent. I think having a different voice every couple of years helps with something like that.”
While Presser agreed with Hayman it’s important for the School Committee to be pushing each other and Tremblay for the betterment of the school system, she said having a new superintendent and a new chairman makes it more difficult to “mentor each other.”
Presser said the policy was modeled after a similar practice undertaken by the Board of Selectmen, but said “the selectmen abandoned that tradition right after we passed our policy.” She noted Selectman Phil Crawford served as the board’s chairman for two straight years.
“Maybe there is something to be said that a limit is valid, but two years is a little bit short,” Presser added.
After listening to the discussion for several minutes, Doyle weighed in on the proposed change.
“I was hesitant to speak up but I will speak up,” said Doyle. “What Jamie touched upon is certainly a 180 of what I intend to do or have done as a School Committee member because it’s an open book. Anybody is free to talk to Jane at any time and I certainly don’t try to impair anybody. Having said that, you do kind of get into a groove after two years. Would three or four make it better? I don’t know. There is a component that I think as a chairperson, when it’s time to wrap it up and get out of that spot, it’s time to wrap it up and get out of that spot. To me, it’s more about having the right person in there and we get to reset every year in April. And if the person is not serving the committee or serving the school district appropriately, then you can move out whoever the person is. Having a two-year cap is a little bit tight, and I would certainly be open to kicking that out further or eliminating it. It’s a five member committee.”
School Committee Salvatore Cammarata noted he served with four different chairmen over the course of his tenure.
“I never felt with each chairperson any different in terms of the dynamics, the contributions of the committee members or the willingness of the committee members to have a spirited discussion,” said Cammarata. “With that being said, I am a little neutral.”
After further discussion, the School Committee agreed to revisit the discussion at a future meeting.
