Bonfanti sets goals for Peabody school board members

PEABODY – Tuesday night’s School Committee meeting began with a warm reception of coffee, pastries, and small talk, giving newcomers Brandi Carpenter and Ed Charest a chance to mingle with members and others in the community.Mayor Michael Bonfanti welcomed Carpenter and Charest by saying that with their help, “we intend to really move the city forward in the education department.”Before things got entirely underway, Bonfanti took a moment to address the Committee members, new and old, and point out what he feels is something important to remember with the upcoming year.He stated their three major duties as the elected officials to represent Peabody Schools: to enforce the bylaws and outstanding polices, set the budget, and keep an eye on the superintendent. He went on to say what the members are not supposed to do: try to act as the Superintendent, principals and teachers, or handle complaints, as there’s already a system in line for that.”We need to make sure we do our job and do it well,” said Bonfanti. “And we are not to think we are the principals and superintendents.”Bonfanti said that the key to success in Peabody is to work together for the same good cause.”We have the potential to do great things,” he said, adding that sometimes, arguments tend to take the focus of newspapers rather than the matter of discussion. “We don’t want to spoil (that potential) by the press getting the wrong impression.”Designations for subcommittees were also announced. The new members of the Finance Subcommittee are Dave McGeney (Chair), Mike Moutsoulas, and Ed Charest; Quality and Standards Subcommittee members include Beverly Ann Griffin Dunne (Chair), Ed Nizwantowski, and Brandi Carpenter; Mayor Michael Bonfanti will serve as the Chair of the Building and Grounds Subcommittee with members Dunne and Charest; and the Parent Advisory Subcommittee will include Carpenter and Nizwantowski (Chair).By the end of the meeting, it seemed that both Carpenter and Charest had adjusted quite nicely to their new seats on the stage. In fact, rookie Charest brought up some of the night’s most talked about topics: plowing sidewalks within School Zones and giving the Department of Public Works a list of bus stops to try to avoid. Both issues were later put on the agenda for further discussion at the next meeting on Jan. 22.