SWAMPSCOTT ― The Senior Center will host a panel of town leaders to discuss the new school project ahead of early voting, in an effort to combat misinformation spread on social media and to answer questions citizens may have.
The panel will be held on October 7 from noon to 1 p.m. and Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald, Superintendent of Schools Pam Angelakis, School Facilities Director Max Kasper, and School Committee Vice Chair Suzanne Wright will all be addressing concerns from town members in a forum.
“We will discuss some specifics of project financing and ultimately answer questions that folks may have,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re trying to present information so people can make an educated decision at the upcoming election.”
In a town special election on September 13, voters passed in a 244-39 margin to allocate funds for the new school project. Since the vote, posts about the new school project on Facebook pages like Swampscott Nest have garnered hundreds of comments debating different facts on the school. Fitzgerald hopes that this forum will help clarify details for town members.
“It really is so frustrating that some folks try to politicize things by presenting misinformation,” said Fitzgerald. “Our hope is to get some facts out there and give them a chance to hear from the superintendent (of schools) and facilities director.
“We want people to understand the importance of being informed as we make a decision about not only the future of elementary schools but also the financial well-being of Swampscott,” he added.
This meeting will be two days before early voting begins on October 9, and twelve days before the special election on October 19. The forum requests that all questions be submitted in writing to the Senior Center by October 5.
Fitzgerald said that it’s critical for people to understand the current challenges facing the three elementary schools in their present state. The schools ― Clarke, Hadley, and Stanley ― have an average age of 90 years old.
“The town has been struggling for decades to really address the inadequacies of elementary school facilities,” Fitzgerald said. “This is a chance for Swampscott to partner with MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority) to create a state-of-the-art school for all of our children.”
The forum will be videotaped and aired on Swampscott Cable Access. Seating is limited due to COVID-19. Please call 781-596-8866 to reserve a spot.
