Swampscott school board candidates square off

SWAMPSCOTT – School Committee candidates argued experience and continuity versus change at a Candidates Night sponsored by the League of Women Voters Thursday.Incumbent Jaren Landen and challengers Amy O’Conner and Carin Marshall put forth their opinions and positions on the role of a School Committee member and addressed how to improve the district during a period of leadership transition to a crowd of about 20 members of the community at Swampscott High School.Landen took the position of promoting continuity on the committee. “I’m running because the School Committee hasn’t had a member serve two consecutive terms in 10 years,” she said. “We cannot continue to have 100 percent turnover ? the changes take away from the work we need to do with Swampscott schools.”O’Connor said it was the continuity of the staff of the schools, not the committee that made a difference. While Landen said the key to retaining school administration was investing in professional development and mentoring services for staff, O’Connor blamed the “toxic” environment among current committee members for setting a negative tone in the district due to some members overstepping their bounds. “We hire the professionals to do their jobs,” said O’Connor. “The School Committee is not a place for micro-managing. I believe I can change that.”O’Connor took the same approach when the candidates were asked by an audience member what ideas they would bring to help the school. “Just because I went to school and have kids in school doesn’t necessarily qualify me to bring in new ideas,” she said. “I really believe my role on the committee is to find the right professional to do their jobs.”Landen disagreed. “It’s not out of the realm for School Committee members to suggest ideas,” she said. “If ideas are tossed around, we can raise the issues to the administrative team and they can provide input.”Marshall agreed that the committee needed to “take a step back and look at the proper role” of the position. She said if she were to be elected, she would advocate for communication and transparency, and would encourage parents to be engaged.During closing statements, Landen refuted O’Connor’s claims that there was “disharmony” on the current committee and that discussion went on “behind closed doors,” adding that though members engaged in “spirited debate,” they often voted unanimously. “Those who attended regular meetings would know that,” she said.Marshall gave one last argument for change in her closing. “If residents are satisfied with the current state of the school district, then fine ? If not, then please consider to put new voices and perspective on the committee.”Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].