Name: Ryan FisherAge: 38
Occupation: Program Manager for the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board. I have also served as a member of Saugus Town Meeting since 2017.
Education: I graduated from St. John’s Prep in Danvers in 1999. I received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Merrimack College in 2003 and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Salem State University in 2008.
What is the most important issue facing the School Committee and how would you address it?
The most pressing issue facing Saugus public schools is a weak and uneven curriculum. Teachers don’t have adequate team-leader support and may be left to build their own curriculum, leading to variations from class to class. Grades are scaled, leading to the recent situation with the MCAS where scores were weak despite a high number of students receiving honors.
What three issues are most important to you?
The biggest issue is weak curriculum and the inflated grades which mask the problems of the district. A second overlapping issue is falling morale amongst students, teachers and parents. This overlaps with the third issue, which is that kids continue to be pulled out of the school system due to concerns about the quality of a Saugus education.
If a challenger, what expertise do you bring to the table?
I’m a detail-oriented, numbers guy. I’m good at focusing on a problem and dismissing extraneous tangents that only serve to distract and slow things down. As a member of Town Meeting, I never missed a session, took every obligation seriously, and I don’t care about vendettas.
Why are you running?
Due to the high costs of private tuition, I was a strong advocate for the new school construction and hoped my daughter could get a great education in Saugus. The School Committee’s conduct on the custodial terminations was appalling, especially how they spoke to students, parents and residents at their June 20, 2019 public meeting. Their reaction to the fallout from that meeting left me convinced they weren’t best suited to resolve the critical issues of the district, so I pulled papers myself.
Why should people vote for you?
I’m a lifelong Saugus resident, but since I didn’t go to school here I went years without deep ties to the community. I don’t have lifelong friendships or animosities with Saugus residents, so I’m better able to judge situations on the merits, and not on who supports who or what they said years ago.
Name: Linda N. Gaieski
Age: 71
Occupation: Retired Belmonte Middle School teacher and vice principal
Education: Saugus High School Graduate; Merrimack College, BA in History/English; Western Michigan University, National Science Foundation Certificate Advanced Social Studies Education with specific emphasis on interdisciplinary project/ problem based learning; Salem State University English and Master’s Degree Program in Guidance and Counseling; Cambridge College, M.Ed., Supervision and Administration; extensive post graduate courses in teaching methodology, child growth and development, psychology, and social-emotional factors affecting children.
If an incumbent, how many years have you served?
I have served for four years.
What is the most important issue facing the School Committee and how would you address it?
The most important issue facing the Saugus schools is the student achievement gap and MCAS scores that place our Middle and High School in the bottom 10 percent of 132 schools tested in Massachusetts rendering them “in need of focused/targeted support.” I would address this by advocating for the funds necessary to support the work of curriculum development and alignment with state standards under the supervision and direction of curriculum coordinators at all levels with an eye toward developing curriculum coaches in the next few years.
The three issues that are most important to me are:
Facilitating a smooth transition into the new MS/HS complex in 2020 and the reconfiguration of the PreK-2 ELC and development of a grades 3-5 STEAM Academy;
bridging the student achievement gap and raising MCAS scores by evoking a culture change in the delivery of direct education to a student-centered, project-based learning experience; and ensuring the social-emotional needs of all students are met.
If an incumbent, what is your biggest accomplishment during your time in office?
My biggest accomplishment while in office has been my Chairmanship of the Policy Subcommittee, which has allowed for the creation and revision of many new policies to guide the changes necessary to bring about changes in the delivery of education in Saugus.
Why are you running?
I am running for a third term to finish the job of building and reconfiguring the schools in Saugus, as well as being part of changing the way education is delivered.
Why should people vote for you?
I am invested in and dedicated to the Saugus Public Schools. My 40 years as a teacher and vice principal at Belmonte Middle School, coupled with four years service on the School Committee, speak for my abilities, passion, and commitment to the children of Saugus.
Name: Arthur Grabowski
Age: 70
Occupation: Retired warehouse managerAttended Boston College, United States Army Intelligence School, United States Army NCO leadership Academy, served in Vietnam as intelligence analyst, attended Suffolk University.
What is the most important issue facing the School Committee and how would you address it?
The most pressing issue is the lack of student achievement in the middle and high school, both schools used to be in the bottom 25 percent of all schools in the Commonwealth but within the last two years have slipped down into the bottom 10 percent.
What three issues are most important to you?
Student achievement, bullying and school safety.
Why are you running?
I bring a working knowledge of town politics to the table having served on town meeting and school committee. I am quite versed in the workings of the school department budget.
Why should people vote for you?
People should vote for me because I am a truly independent voice. I have NO relatives working in another town department. I am NOT looking to get a job working for the Town of Saugus NOR the Town Manager. NOR would I accept one if offered. There are no actual or potential conflicts of interest that would inhibit my performing my duties as a school committee member.
Name: John S. Hatch
Education: Saugus High School Graduate class of 1984. North Shore Community College, Course study Substance abuse counselor to groups and Families / adolescent crisis counseling
Occupation: Executive Vice President, Action Ambulance Service Inc. responsible for the Human Resources and Business Development. Certified National Registry Emergency Medical Technician.
How long have you served in office?
I was elected, and served on the School Committee from 1997 to 2003. I served as Chairman from 1999 to 2003. I was elected to town meeting Precinct 3, 1995 to 1997, and appointed from 2003 to 2005.
I have been a member of Saugus Community Health Taskforce, the Lynn District Court, Community Service Diversion Councilor 1997 to 2011, Saugus Pop warner football coach C-team 1994 to 1996, Saugus High School Assistant Varsity Hockey Coach 1996 to 2003, Saugus National Little League Coach 2008 to 2016, Board of Director from 2011 to 2016, Saugus Catholic Collaborative Confirmation Leader 2016 to 2018.
What is the most important issue facing the School Committee?
For reasons right, wrong, or indifferent our town and the school system seems to be divided. As a Human Resource / Business development professional the glaring issue I see is a culture problem. In the private sector a business with a positive culture, tends to thrive and prosper. I think our School District needs time to heal from some very difficult times. The School District has comprehensive policies and procedures that should be used to help us through these times.
What three issues are most important to you?
Free all-day kindergarten, MCAS Pre-classes for students that are in need of extra help, a health & wellness & substance abuse prevention program for the upper elementary, and the middle school.
If an incumbent, what is your biggest accomplishment during your time in office?
I feel my biggest accomplishment while on the school committee was being a voice of reason, and someone who brought people together to reach a common goal for the good of the district. I feel now more than ever my background in with employee relations, and employee engagement, in addition to my experience in town government is exactly what the district needs at this time.
Why are you running?
I am running because I love our town. We are much better than what has played out in public over the past few years. We have far more achievements to celebrate, as opposed continuously pointing out our faults and magnifying them.
Name: Marc Magliozzi
Age: 45
Occupation: NPI (New Product/Development Introduction) Material Manager at GE Aviation, at GE since 2011
Education: St. John’s Preparatory School, Danvers, MA May 1992
Massachusetts Maritime Academy, June 1996-Bachelor of Science: Marine Safety and
Environmental Protection, Marine Transportation
If an incumbent, how long have you served?
I have served on the Saugus School Committee for one term since 2017
What is the most important issue facing the School Committee and how would you address it?
I believe the most important issue facing the District is Educational Equity and consistency throughout the schools. I have been hearing, and have personally witnessed, students that either move further ahead or lag behind based on the teacher, school or team within a school that they are placed.
My goal is, and has been, to assure that these gaps are no longer present.
What three issues are most important to you?
The three biggest issues that are important to me are student achievement, student/teacher morale and assuring that the public knows of the positive steps that the District has taken. I have heard that the morale is low from most stakeholders and I believe that when a person is happy, success will follow.
If an incumbent, what is your biggest accomplishment during your time in office?
I have served as Chair on the Safety and Transportation Sub-committee where we have been able to reduce the school bus pass fee in half (to $180 annually) with a family cap. I have been part of the committee that enacted a policy to increase student attendance in school so that the time on learning will increase. We also instituted the Pre-Academy at the Belmonte Middle School to challenge our students at a younger age.
Why are you running?
I have been able to bring issues to the table that face the elementary school children in the District. In the recent past, there hasn’t been a voice of the younger children and the challenges that they face. I want to continue to make sure that the issues are presented and addressed.
Why should people vote for you?
During my past term, I have always had the best interest of the children first and foremost. Difficult decisions are not always the most popular decisions but the long term effect is what is needed and what I look at. I analyze the data that is in front of me and available when I make my decisions.
Name: Jeannie Meredith
Age: 50
Occupation: I am a licensed private investigator at my own firm, Moonlight Investigations. I also work as a part-time clerk for the Town of Saugus.
Education: Saugus High School graduate
If an incumbent, how long have you served?
I have served as Chairwoman of the School Committee for the past four years, and I have been a member of the Committee since 2013. I also serve as Chairwoman of the Saugus School Building Committee since its inception in early 2015.
What is the most important issue facing the School Committee and how would you address it?
The most important initiative and goal of the Town and Saugus Public Schools is bringing the new Saugus Middle-High School project to completion, the renovation of the Veterans Memorial Elementary School and Belmonte Middle School and subsequent reorganization and reduction of school buildings, the comprehensive plan to transform the delivery of education within the Saugus Public Schools in order to better align with 21st century learning.
What three issues are most important to you?
- Closing the academic achievement gap and bringing the Saugus Public Schools to a level 1 district;
- Ensuring that the health and wellness of our students is a priority, and recognizing and addressing the many social and emotional issues that children face today; and
- Spreading awareness and fighting against vaping, opioid use, and binge-drinking in our youth.
If an incumbent, what is your biggest accomplishment during your time in office?
My biggest accomplishment is supporting, advocating for, and helping to accomplish bringing a new Middle-High School to our community for the children and residents of Saugus. This has been an enormous, multi-year project that would not be possible without the support and assistance from residents, volunteers, the MSBA, the Building Committee, and many more.
Why are you running?
I am running on behalf of the children of Saugus with a goal to continue to implement positive change within the district that will benefit the students and give them the necessary tools needed to succeed and thrive in their future careers.
Why should people vote for you?
I have always and will continue to make decisions in the best interests of the children of Saugus. I promise to take action in order to improve our accountability classification, provide a better education and learning environment for the children of Saugus, and change the way direct education is prioritized and delivered within the district.
Name: Thomas Whittredge
Occupation: Facilities HVAC Technician
Educational background: Ballard and Veterans memorial schools, Belmonte Junior High
Northeast Regional- Class of 1989, Peterson School, Bunker Hill Community College.
What is the most important issue facing the School Committee and how would you address it?
We are moving into a state-of-the-art building. We need to bring 21st century teaching ideas into it as well.
What three issues are most important to you?
The top three challenges facing Saugus are low MCAS scores. The district has made progress over the last year. Collaboration with the teachers will help us better understand what is needed to make even more progress on the MCAS. The other challenge I see is the focus on the negative things happening with our district. Our Community should be excited about moving into the state-of-the-art MS/HS. Building off of the positive progress will go a long way toward forming a positive atmosphere for the teachers, staff and most importantly, the students.
