Politics fly at Swampscott school board meeting

SWAMPSCOTT – Wednesday?s School Committee meeting may have started with a warning from Chairman Larry Beaupre to keep politics off the agenda, but it didn?t stop the comments from happening.During public comment, resident Glenn Paster alluded to the forced resignation of Marblehead?s School Committee when he said he didn?t want any member of the Swampscott committee to resign, but blamed the turmoil at the top in both school systems on committee members overstepping their bounds.?I think there were agendas here, and there probably still are,” Paster said to the board. “This is a broken board.”Paster said he didn?t want to use the floor as a political forum, but said he often wondered if anything would change with the upcoming School Committee election, with a race for two seats between one incumbent in Jaren Landen and two new candidates, Amy O?Conner and Carin Marshall.Though Beaupre warned him to halt, Paster addressed Landen. “If indeed you are re-elected, please do some self-reflection on what happened this year,” he said, leaving the room shortly after.Paster?s address was followed by one from committee member Marianne Hartmann, who was inspired to speak after resident Jackie Kinney made similar comments in a meeting March 27. “Public comment doesn?t mean public attack,” said Hartmann. “Nastiness and public slander has become a sport in this town.”Hartmann said there were too many “broad sweeping statements” made online in blogs, and not enough open, healthy debate.?Anyone willing to sign up for another three years should be commended for their commitment to Swampscott Public Schools,” Hartmann finished.Later in the meeting, Landen responded to Paster?s concerns, adding that she agreed with Paster?s point about reflection. “I don?t have a big public statement,” she said. “Every single person that has sat in this seat does reflection. I definitely think it?s important.”Beaupre added, “I can?t honestly remember a comment session with the depth of points made that we?ve had tonight ?all of us who aspire to public service, and all people in general should take the time for self-reflection for what we can do better.”Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].