SAUGUS — One school committee member aspires to be the next athletic director, but some board members aren’t sure she should be considered for the job.
Elizabeth Marchese, who has been heavily involved with youth sports since she began coaching baseball in 2004, said she has had an interest in the position for several years. She applied once before in 2013, and when the opportunity presented itself again this year, she jumped on it.
Arthur Grabowski, a school committee member, argued that Marchese should not be eligible for the position because of her role on the committee and the ongoing superintendent evaluations being conducted by the committee.
“You don’t review somebody who has the decision to make of whether you get the job or you don’t get the job,” said Grabowski. “I am not saying that this is the case but if you want the job, do you write him a glowing review? I’m not accusing anybody. I would think that people wouldn’t let those things influence their evaluation, but as a person from the inside observing the situation, it certainly doesn’t look good, it doesn’t look right, and it doesn’t look favorable.”
Marchese maintains that her interest in the position would not influence her evaluation. Should she be chosen as the next athletic director, she will resign from her position on the school committee.
“I would never use an evaluation that way,” she said. “I am going to evaluate objectively based on whether (Dr. David DeRuosi) did his job as a superintendent according to the goals we set. It will not change, whether or not I get the job. I was elected by the residents to do this job fairly and I intend to do that. Those who know me know that I value my ethics above everything else. Those who speak badly of you already think badly of you.”
Prior to her interview on Monday, Marchese contacted the state Ethics Commission to determine whether applying for the position would be considered a conflict of interest. The commission determined “nothing in the conflict of interest law prohibits (her) from serving on the school committee at the same time (she is) applying for the position of Athletic Director for the Saugus Public Schools,” according to a July 20 email sent from the commission to Marchese.
Additionally, because the board does not appoint or supervise the athletic director, she would not be required to step down.
During the first of two rounds of interviews last Friday, Grabowski sat in as an observer. Chairwoman Jeannie Meredith argued that he did not have the right to be in the room while candidates were confidentially being interviewed.
“My issue is with having a school committee member in the room during interviews,” Meredith said. “It’s against policy. As elected school committee members, we set policy. What kind of example are we setting if we can’t even follow policy? We have no authority when it comes to hiring. I want to advocate for a fair process and an uncompromised process and that was not done here. It’s wrong.”
Marchese, who has dabbled in pop warner, little league, softball, and other athletic programs for more than a decade, said she enjoys serving as a mentor to student-athletes. During the 2014-15 school year, she launched an unofficial, after-school study group for athletes struggling academically. It was originally offered to football players and cheerleaders, but caught on quickly among the athletic population.
“There is no way I would ever say ‘no’ to a student looking for help,” said Marchese. “When the football season ended, they showed up and said ‘aren’t we still doing this?’ It ended up as a year-round thing.”
In addition to her hands-on experience with youth sports, Marchese said the two years she spent as chairwoman of the school committee’s athletic sub-committee would help her succeed in the role.
Marchese said she submitted a copy of the Ethics Commission letter, proof that she has the necessary certifications for the job, and letters of recommendation from coaches, teachers, students and the presidents of each youth organization in town.
She plans to continue to support students even if she is not chosen for the position.
“I’m here for the long haul,” said Marchese. “I will still be here for anyone who needs me. It’s about the children. It’s not about everybody else. It’s unfortunate that politics and personal vendettas can sometimes get in the way when it comes to doing what is right for the children.”
