LTU Hosts Lynn School Committee Candidate Debate

On October 5th, educators along with members of the public gathered at Breed Middle School for a School Committee candidate debate sponsored by the Lynn Teachers Union with support from the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance (MEJA), the North Shore Labor Council, the New Lynn Coalition and Neighbor 2 Neighbor. Eleven of the twelve candidates were in attendance with candidate Judith Wilson unfortunately absent due to illness. 

The candidates running for school committee in this year’s election are: 

• Stacy Bryant-Brown
• Brian Castellanos*
• Eric Dugan*
• Lorraine Gately*
• Walquiria Leguisamon
• Sandra Lopez
• Tiffany Magnolia*
• Lenny Pena*
• Sean Reid
• Daniel Richard
• Andrea Satterwhite
• Judith Wilson*

*Incumbent 

The first question for the candidates focused on teacher retention specifically given the number of educators that have left the district coupled with a significant number of vacant educator roles this year. 

[Editor Note]: According to the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 79.9% of teachers in Lynn were retained from 2022 to 2023. Further, during the 2021-22 school year, the percentage of experienced teachers in the Lynn Public School district was: 

Experienced Teachers	78.4%
Experienced Teachers in high poverty schools	77.8%

The next school year (2022-23), the percentage of experienced had decreased to 71.1%.

A summary of responses were as follows: 

• Bryant-Brown: Would like to see support groups and collaboratives for educators
• Castellanos: Proposed a retention advisory committee with 5-year plan including addressing burnout. Called for funds/resources to retain talent not limited to within Human Resources (HR), pipelines for cultivating educator talent
• Dugan: Proposed a 5-prong approach - mentorship, compensation, working conditions/state of schools/climate, growth opportunities, autonomy for veteran teachers
• Gately: Focused on continuing to listen to grievances and specifically highlighted that they’re, at times, too many initiatives without sufficient training plus too many things going wrong simultaneously. Proposed more time for professional development and working on climate along with decreasing class size. 
• Leguisamon: Proposed a waterfall schedule or teachers, allowing more time for collaboration and an increased use of technology
• Magnolia: Proposed incorporating career ladders into all contracts as part of the benefits package. Questioned why the least experienced teachers are being assigned to the highest needs students and also how mentorship is being incentivized in terms of both time and money. Highlighted the need to acknowledge the collective trauma of the last 3+ years.
• Pena: Focused on creating pipelines for cultivating talent and being more aggressive in recruitment. Proposed working more closely with state legislators and creating a better atmosphere for training new staff.
• Reid: Focused on looking at compensation, overcrowding and learning loss (i.e. teachers currently having to make up for losses from prior academic years) plus related need for additional out of school supports. Proposed better communication and a better utilization of time. 
• Richard: Focused on compensation, need to appreciate teachers more, supporting younger/newer teachers and relieving stress of standardized testing. 
• Satterwhite: Proposed implementing a sign-on bonus that could be paid in multiple installments over 1 - 2 years and also creating safer, more supportive environments. 

The second question was related to potential budget cuts and staffing priorities. Specifically, the candidates were asked if they would support administrators being laid off before educators if necessary. All candidates were in support of retaining teachers over administrators if asked to do so. 

• Bryant-Brown: “Takes a village to educate children…[is] for teachers”
• Castellanos: “Teachers are the backbone of the district…budget reflects the thoughts of the district”
• Dugan: “Would advocate for administrator layoffs first..laying off teachers first messes with morale and wouldn’t help with retention”
• Gately: “Where would were without our teachers?”
• Lopez: “Would not support [laying off teachers first]”
• Magnolia: “Every high touch position will be protected…Remind administrators of vacancies and who is being hired, when and why”
• Pena: “Would not support…being an educator is a calling”
• Reid: “Educators are the pillars of the community…[Called for being] thoughtful in decision making. What will admin do to make the lives of teachers easier?” Proposed implementing metrics around this question
• Satterwhite: Acknowledged that teachers spend more time with children than parents sometimes. Called for more collaboration between parents and teachers.

The final question focused on overcrowding. 

[Editor Note]: At Lynn English, enrollment has increased significantly over the last few school years.

As part of the question, an example was provided around one Lynn classroom that currently has 40+ special education students without enough desks for all students.

• Bryant-Brown: Proposed advocating for additional funding at the MA State House; reviewing vacant rooms/space.
• Castellanos: Highlighted disconnect between State House and district. Highlighted focus on advocacy. Said MA DESE doesn’t see the reality of what district is facing. 
• Dugan: Acknowledged that this is a complicated issue. Proposed increasing number of well trained paraprofessionals, use of MTS. Asked whether district is in compliance with special ed laws given the specific example given; “we need to be in compliance"
• Gately: Said nobody should be in a classroom with more than 40 students. Wants secondary teachers to call her and provided her number for accessibility. 
• Leguisamon: Highlighted increasing population, notably that more families with children are moving into Lynn but we lack classroom space. Also noted lack of communication saying the community should not learn about issues like the one in the example at a school committee debate. Proposed taking advantage of grants, increasing parent engagement and promote Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs).
• Lopez: Highlighted current issues around immigration and the focus on building housing instead of schools. 
• Magnolia: Noted historical lack of investment in schools. Said Student Opportunity Act provides funding, but that funding is not about building. Advocacy needed on the city council side. Proposed leased space as a short-term solution; looking at niche programs like the Discovery Academy. Considering both short and long term solutions to overcrowding. 
• Pena: Advocacy needed in conjunction with state legislature and city council. 
• Reid: Noted current role with State Senator Crighton. Spoke about inequitable MSBA formula and need to reform at the state level. Proposed reducing classroom ratios with paraprofessionals. Gathering qualitative and quantitative data around issue incl. pictures and stories. 
• Richard: Noted that the long-term solution is new buildings particularly with new students coming into the district everyday. Highlighted need for parents to advocate at city and state level. 
• Satterwhite: Is in favor of lowering ratios. Noted Lynn English as one of the most overcrowded schools and that modular classrooms did not address issue. Proposed advocating for special education funding and for the city to be more aggressive in fighting for state funds; looking at additional leased space including retail space as a short-term solution.

After responding to these questions, each candidate was permitted to give a 2-minute closing statement. 

• Bryant-Brown: Highlighted 20+ year career as a court officer in Lynn Juvenile Court
• Castellanos: Highlighted personal experience with housing instability and food insecurity. Currently a licensed social worker with a master’s degree. 
• Dugan: Noted current role as a teacher in Danvers. 
• Gately: Noted career as a teacher in Lynn fro 33.5 years and current work on the new Pickering Middle School 
• Legusiamon: Spoke of the need for a more collaborative relationship between parents and the district. 
• Lopez: Said this was her third time running for School Committee. Goal is to work for the community and wants the community to come out to vote. 
• Magnolia: Currently completing first term on LSC; is #11 on the ballot. Is an LPS parent and a 19-year professor at North Shore Community College. Also is an advocate for LGBTQIA students. 
• Pena: Is a coach as a parent and union member; involved in the community 
• Reid: Has both experience and passion. Is on the YMCA and Shannon Grant Boards. Comes from an organizing background. 
• Richard: Focused on underserved students esp. special education and ESL students. Also proposed increased financial literacy in schools. 
• Satterwhite: Former LPS school nurse and has experience implementing IEPs. Main focus is on safety, community partnerships, and improved educational opportunities.

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To view Lynn Community Television School Committee candidate profiles (video): 2023 LCTV LSC Candidates

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The Lynn municipal election will be held on Tuesday, November 7th. 

To confirm your voter registration status: My Voter Registration Status; the last day to register to vote in the November election is October 28th. 

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