Peabody schools to implement election day changes

PEABODY – In less than three weeks, Peabody schools will get to see the results of months of planning for improved safety during Election Days.The School Committee voted unanimously in April to implement an early dismissal on Tuesday, Sept. 16 for the Massachusetts State Primary. They also voted to close schools entirely during the Presidential Election in November.”After the 16th, we’re going to assess our resolutions and make potential further recommendations,” said Assistant Superintendent Joseph Mastrocola, a member of the Election Day Safety Committee. He later added that the group anticipates having a more concrete procedure in place for future Election Days after November.School Committee member Brandi Carpenter spearheaded the change early into her days on the board. She’s remained extremely passionate about increased safety, particularly closing the schools all together, since hearing of the Randolph incident in which a young girl was struck and seriously injured by an 86-year-old man on his way to cast his vote.Carpenter drew her own conclusions after reflecting on her own voting experiences in Peabody. She alluded to illegally parked cars in fire lanes, people driving against the normal traffic pattern of the school, and strangers coming and going without ever having to check in at the main office.Her concerns went from vehicle safety to the possibility of sex offenders, who would under no other circumstances be allowed on the premises, wandering the halls while young children are attending class. Police Chief Robert Champagne attended a school committee meeting to assure her and other members of the board that the schools are never safer than during Election Days because of the increased presence of police officers, but, that didn’t calm her fears.”I know I’ve been very passionate about this,” she told the Committee Tuesday night. “A lot of good will come of it.”She referred to this year’s procedure as a “pilot program” that will require some tweaking in order to bring it to its full potential in voting years to come.”I want to encourage the public to contact me,” she said, opening herself up to feedback from residents. She hopes to hear what voters liked and disliked about the new process, what they wish to see different, or if the current changes made any impact at all.