Published May 8, 2019
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD – Veteran School Committee member Christopher Callanan will chair the board for the next year. Newly re-elected member and outgoing chairman Thomas Markham handed off the gavel to Callanan after his colleagues elected him to lead the School Committee last week.
As is customary, the School Committee reorganized its leadership at their first meeting after the April 23 Town Election. Aimee Purcell was tapped to be vice chair.
The School Committee also welcomed two new members, Thomas Flynn of Broadway and Suzy Veilleux of Aborn Avenue. They are filling the spots previously occupied by Greg Liakos and R.J. Masse. Liakos and Masse did not seek re-election.
Veilleux was chosen to be the designated payroll signer for the next year.
Judy Boutiette was re-appointed as School Committee clerk.
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Also at last week’s meeting the School Committee reviewed and approved job descriptions for Curriculum Coordinator, Curriculum Liaisons, Information Technology Support Specialist and Senior Information Technology Support Specialist.
Assistant Superintendent Kara Mauro and Curriculum Coordinator Jason Pavey presented a review of the grade 5-12 History and Social Sciences Curriculum. They compared current and new standards for each grade as well as curriculum materials, upgrades and recommendations.
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The School Committee heard from Pina Masciarelli-Patel, chair of the Wakefield Human Rights Commission regarding a May 21, 2019 special event, entitled “The State of Hate in Massachusetts,” to be held in The Savings Bank Theatre and featuring Robert Trestan, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League of New England.
The free program gets underway at 7 p.m. and will offer a general overview of recent incidents of hate in Massachusetts and how they compare to national trends as well as an explanation of how to differentiate hate incidents from hate crimes and why this is important. There will also be a discussion of best practices on how to respond to hate in your communities.
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School Superintendent Douglas Lyons reported that a team from the Massachusetts School Building Authority visited the Greenwood School last Thursday to take a look at the roof. The School Department has submitted a request to the MSBA’s Accelerated Repairs Program for financial assistance in replacing the roof on the elementary school. Lyons said that expects to hear by the end of June whether the request has been accepted by the MSBA.
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In other business last week the School Committee:
• Reappointed Maria Muti as its representative on the Wakefield Human Rights Commission.
• Voted to accept donation of an outdoor storage shed for the Greenwood Elementary School (valued at $3,500) donated by Amy and Thomas Blain of 85 Harrison Ave. The shed will be used for storage of the school snowblower and other maintenance items.
