SAUGUS — Of the traditional races on the ballot this fall, School Committee is perhaps the most interesting of the bunch.
Seven candidates are running for five seats, and six of the seven candidates have experience on the committee. All five of the committee’s current members, Ryan Fisher, Leigh Gerow, Dennis Gould, John Hatch, and Vincent Serino are seeking additional terms. Former Chair Tom Whittredge, the top vote-getter in each of the last two elections, is running to reclaim a seat on the committee, after resigning last year following the death of his wife. Also in the running is a newcomer — Stephanie Mastrocola.
Despite having not served in elected office, Mastrocola has been involved in the town’s schools in various capacities previously, including as president of the Waybright PTO, and works full-time as a registered nurse for Mass General Brigham. She is also a part-time community relations consultant for WIN Waste Innovations.
Adding to the interest is the uncertainty surrounding the future of the school district’s leadership.
Superintendent Erin McMahon, hired ahead of the 2021-22 school year by a committee that included Gould, Fisher, Hatch, and Whittredge, has been on paid administrative leave since January. In her stead, former Saugus High School Principal Michael Hashem has been serving as acting superintendent.
The committee has not commented publicly on McMahon’s status since it announced she was being placed on leave on Jan. 19. Since then, McMahon’s attorney, Michael Long, alleged that the committee not only violated her contract by failing to give her written notice of any allegations against her, but also violated the Open Meeting Law in May.
The status of an investigation into as-yet unpublicized allegations of wrongdoing by McMahon also remains unclear.
Should residents usher in change, it’s unclear how exactly new members would approach the situation.
Ahead of the election on Nov. 7, The Item asked candidates the same set of questions — about how the district has made progress, why they are seeking additional terms, or why they are running for posts, and the challenges facing Saugus Public Schools. Candidates were asked to keep their responses to around 50 words.
Ryan Fisher
From your perspective, how has the district made progress in the past two years?
The last two years have been a return to normalcy after Covid and the building consolidation. We’ve spent years setting goals investing in curriculum and supports for students, and we’re seeing growth and progress. Kids need to learn but to also be happy, feel safe, know they’re supported, and want to participate in all aspects of school. We’re seeing signs of that every day.
What is the biggest issue facing the town’s schools?
Retention. We need to recruit high-quality new teachers, retain our teachers during a teacher shortage, provide stability and support to kids, and compete to keep our students. Everyone’s story is different, but every child added participates and invests in everyone’s school experience.
Why are you running for another term on the committee?
I’ve lived here my entire life and want to give back, my daughter’s going to be coming into the system, I’m independent and can make decisions with an outsider’s unbiased perspective, but most of all, the job I started four years ago isn’t complete. We’ve made so much progress and I know I can be useful finishing the job.
Leigh Gerow
From your perspective, how has the district made progress in the past two years?
Our teachers and staff have committed to lifting up our students in the aftermath of the pandemic. They have been preparing our students to learn to read by age 8 with our new curriculum, Wit & Wisdom. Our early-college program and partnership with NSCC is giving students an opportunity to experience advanced coursework. We have committed to our Kids Come First after-school program and expanded our guidance and psychological services.
What is the biggest issue facing the town’s schools?
The influx of unhoused migrant families. Ensuring we work with our Department of Public Health liaisons to ready them for school. Figuring out how to best support our teachers who face the challenge of receiving new students mid-year. Continuing to improve the communication between schools and home. Middle and High School years are a big time of change. We need to pay (and retain) our teachers in a fair manner so that our students have consistent educators throughout the year.
Why are you running for another term on the committee?
We always need to strive for better. I want to be able to speak for the parents and guardians who have concerns and feel unheard. As a mom of a Belmonte fourth grader, the decisions that are made also affect my family directly. Many of the issues I’ve raised and problems solved this term came from seeing families at the park, at cheer practice, at birthday parties. I’m here. I’m available and I’m fully committed to our children.
Dennis Gould
From your perspective, how has the district made progress in the past two years?
In 2018 and 2019, the SMS and SHS respectively moved into a state classification of requiring assistance or intervention/in need of focused/targeted support. Since then, both schools navigated through the pandemic learning loss, moved to the new complex, and combined two buildings into a shared place while managing to get out of the classification in 2022-23 and classified as not requiring assistance or intervention/moderate progress toward targets.
What is the biggest issue facing the town’s schools?
We are trending in the right direction, but more work needs to be done. The district has worked with the state to integrate a new curriculum for both ELA and math using high-quality instructional materials and a curriculum aligned to the state standards. This has provided our hardworking teachers and support staff with professional development and aligned instructional materials to help provide our students with access to learning grade-appropriate and standard-aligned content.
Why are you running for another term on the committee?
I am running again to continue to be part of the new improvements, policies, and funding to assure our district and teachers have the new technology, learning tools, and resources to educate all of our students.
John Hatch
From your perspective, how has the district made progress in the past two years?
Getting the building open after changing the fundamental structures going from seven to three buildings and returning to full in-person learning after the pandemic. Aligned with that, working to integrate new high-quality curriculum and minimize the learning loss.
What is the biggest issue facing the town’s schools?
Teaching critical-thinking skills, critical-reading skills, and problem-solving skills, while dealing with social/emotional issues that our students are dealing with on a day-to-day basis. This requires additional funding and additional staffing is always a challenge.
Why are you running for another term on the committee?
To finish what I have started towards making our schools a better place and a showcase of our community. The pieces are in place and I want to take the final steps into making this happen for our students and their families.
Stephanie Mastrocola
From your perspective, how has the district made progress in the past two years?
Teachers are leaving because of feeling unsupported and oftentimes unsafe in the classroom. Students are frustrated sitting in the cafeteria for two periods at a time. IEPs are not being followed as they are written. The communication over the last couple of years has been minimal to absent. Conversations about a safety officer have been tossed around, but never any follow-up. This question is hard for me to answer and include the word progress.
What is the biggest issue facing the town’s schools?
There is no one issue. But if I have to pick one, it’s a lack of teachers and supportive staff in the classrooms. This is such a vicious cycle, but not hard to understand. Without the educator, there is no learning. If a teacher doesn’t feel supported emotionally and academically, what makes the students want to learn? If we think the kids don’t see the struggles within the classroom, then we are turning a blind eye. We need to face the truth in what’s going on in these classrooms.
Why did you decide to run for School Committee?
I have been wanting to run for the last couple of years, but I wouldn’t have been able to give 100%. I have seen many ups and downs with the kids, including my own. I have been involved in the school system and community for almost 12 years. I’m doing this because I’m a parent and still on that side of the table. I am excited to bring my knowledge for better possibilities for Saugus education.
Vincent Serino
From your perspective, how has the district made progress in the past two years?
The district has made progress in closing the achievement gap. We have a great district improvement plan in place. We have the teachers, support staff, and administration in place to carry this plan out and make it successful. We are supported by the town and continue to move forward together.
What is the biggest issue facing the town’s schools?
The biggest issue facing the schools is a nationwide issue. We are facing a teacher shortage, especially in the special services piece of education. We have put things in place to engage new teachers to come to Saugus. We also have worked on the retention and development of our current teachers. We will continue to support and work with any teachers coming to the district and those currently in the district.
Why are you running for another term on the committee?
I am running for another term because I want to finish what we started here. We are focusing on the growth of the district and the development of the whole student. We have made big strides in communication, student achievement, program development, and overall town engagement. I know we are putting the right things in place to make the Saugus schools a place you want your child to come to.
Tom Whittredge
From your perspective, how has the district made progress in the past two years?
The district has made a few small strides, including a small increase in MCAS scores and a stronger focus on safety and security. With the uncertainty surrounding the superintendent, its difficult to make significant progress when the goal line keeps getting moved back.
What is the biggest issue facing the town’s schools?
Clearly the biggest issue at the moment is the situation with the superintendent. We have had eight superintendents, including Mr. Hashem twice, since 2013. It is next to impossible to establish any kind of educational plan when every superintendent brings a different vision. I also think the way the district spends money needs to be refined. We need more educators at each level for our ever-growing population. We also need to replenish our depleted Special Education Department.
Why did you decide to come back to the committee after stepping down last year?
Breast cancer devastated my family. It was an extremely difficult time for my two kids and myself, so I made the tough decision to resign. I’ve been gone for 16 months and in that time I’ve seen things the School Department can do to help themselves, but they don’t. I have a third grader and a 10th grader that rely on me. Because of them, I am more confident then ever that I can help make a difference in this district.
