By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield Teachers Association (LTA) is hosting its first community forum on Tuesday, April 2, taking place from 6-8 p.m. at the Lynnfield Middle School cafeteria.
The LTA wrote in a statement sent to the Villager that the middle school forum will serve as an “open dialogue on the condition of our schools.”
“Members of the LTA will describe what they see as crisis conditions in our schools, but will also seek input on how parents, school administrators, elected officials, community members and educators can work collaboratively to address these concerns,” the LTA wrote in the statement. “We all have a stake in the success of our public schools, which is why the Lynnfield Teachers Association has prioritized community partnerships as the key to improving the learning and working conditions in Lynnfield Public Schools.”
The LTA approved a resolution in December that declared Lynnfield Public Schools in a “crisis” that needs to be addressed. LTA President Alex Cellucci and LTA Vice President Nicole Hawes read the resolution during the School Committee’s Dec. 12 meeting in the LMS auditorium.
“We believe we are on the right track to make improvements in our schools,” the LTA wrote in the statement sent to the Villager last week.
The LTA recalled that the teachers’ union recently hosted a forum featuring four out of the six School Committee candidates running in two separate races in the Town Election on Tuesday, April 9. Former Finance Committee/Public Safety Building Committee member Kristen Grieco Elworthy, Russet Lane resident Jenny Sheehan, Winchester Drive resident Kimberly Baker Donahue and Planning Board Chair Brian Charville attended the LTA’s forum. Elworthy, Sheehan and Baker Donahue are the three candidates running for the two one-year terms. Charville is running for a three-year term on the school board.
“Members were able to hear candidates’ positions on important issues as well as their vision for the future,” the LTA wrote in the statement. “Likewise, the candidates listened to educators and asked about member concerns and the LTA’s vision for next steps to return Lynnfield Public Schools to a place of pride. Thank you to candidates who participated: Jenny Sheehan, Kristen Elworthy, Brian Charville and Kimberly Baker Donahue.”
School Committee Chair Kate DePrizio and School Committeeman Jim Dillon, who are running for three-year terms, did not attend the forum because DePrizio stated “The School Committee did not find it appropriate nor in the best interest of both parties to have two seated members participate in the LTA candidates’ forum.”
The LTA hosted a similar forum with the two Select Board candidates, Chair Joe Connell and Finance Committee member Alexis Leahy, last week (see separate story).
The teachers’ union hopes residents and officials will attend the community forum on Tuesday, April 2.
“These conversations can create relationships that will help our schools out of crisis,” the LTA stated. “We look forward to leading conversations, sharing expertise and learning what others in the community are thinking about the conditions of our schools. Educators are calling for action, and we need it urgently. We also want whatever steps we as a community take to be strategic and meaningful, and that will happen as we continue to build relationships across the many interests that support our students and schools. We look forward to more conversations on April 2.”
A LTA member who attended the Select Board forum last week acknowledged that educators and staff members “have been through a lot” this academic year.
“The Dec. 12 meeting was very telling of how we are feeling and where we are at,” the LTA member stated. “We have had some positive change, but I will also tell you that I still think there are some things that have to be mended.”
