School Committee debate shakes up format

SAUGUS – The Republican Town Committee aimed to move away from the traditional political debate with a luck-of-the-draw style of questioning at their forum at Giggles Comedy Club Tuesday night.Four candidates of the seven vying election to the School Committee next Tuesday answered three questions each, which they randomly drew from a pool of 21. Committee Chairman Jim Harrington said he liked the idea of each candidate getting different questions, rather than the same answer being echoed by candidates down a table.Though Harrington?s method worked – no candidate drew the same question – the four hopefuls echoed the same themes in their answers regarding budget and the roles and responsibilities of being a School Committee member.The candidates all agreed in being an advocate for students, parents and the town.Challenger Vincent Serino agreed with incumbent Wendy Reed that communication skills and “being a good listener” were important qualities of being a good committee member. Challenger Christopher Aversa said he would talk to town residents to find out what issues concerned them about the school district.While Serino said it was important to “dive deep into the schools and know what?s happening” with day-to-day operations, incumbent Arthur Grabowski remained firm that the role of the School Committee member is to stay out of daily operations, acting more like a board of directors to the superintendent?s position as CEO of the schools.Grabowski said a School Committee member needed to take into account the needs of the town as a bigger picture when making budget decisions. When asked if she would make budget decisions for the school at the expense of the police and fire departments, Reed said she would do “what Saugus Public Schools need to move forward.”Aversa said he wanted to be a part of setting a budget that “the finance committee and Town Meeting isn?t going to tear apart.” In matters of outside pressure from special interest groups, Aversa said he would listen and be respectful but keep the needs of the school as first priority.About 20 people attended the forum at Giggles, with pizza provided by Prince Pizzeria. Incumbents Joseph Malone and Corrine Riley and challenger Jeannette Meredith were not able to attend the forum.Kait Taylor may be reached at [email protected].