Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Lynn School Committee Candidate School Safety Questionnaire: Eric Dugan

Candidates for Lynn School Committee in this year’s municipal election were asked to share their views on school safety, specifically in response to this question: 

Given the recent incidences of violence in the community, safety in the community is naturally on the minds of Lynn residents. Please share your thoughts on school safety specifically addressing the following: 
    • Your understanding of current school safety related issues
    • Your views on school discipline including the use of out of school suspensions and the implementation of restorative discipline
    • How you think social, economic and/or political issues factor into current issues around community safety and violence
    • Your stance on protective sweeps and/or school resource officers
    • Anything else you would like to share on this issue
____________________________________________________________________

Incumbent school committee member, Eric Dugan, provided the following response: 


School safety is an issue that is very important to me. Our students MUST feel safe at school and our educators MUST feel safe at work. Without safety, the already very difficult jobs of learning and educating become nearly impossible. Safety is more than just curbing violence in our schools but also social emotional safety. Our historically marginalized students must feel connected to their schools and they must feel that their emotional needs are being met by the adults and peers. When they are not, it is an unsafe situation. I believe the increase in social workers in our schools, which the current school committee approved will help with this over time. 
That being said, school discipline is important. I believe traditional discipline like suspensions are warranted at times. Unsafe behavior in our schools whether that be bullying or violent behavior can't be tolerated. However, current research also tells us that restorative practice discipline is also something that we need to implement in our schools. Keeping children out of a cycle of suspension and or negative interactions with the school staff and administrators  is important. Restorative practices and really trying to get at the root of the problem of these students is critical in getting them moving in a more positive direction.  

Also, our special education students are currently being disciplined at a much higher rate than our general education students. So we need to make sure that we are meeting the needs of each student and being sure that student IEPs accommodations are being met.  Being in compliance with these legal documents is critical prior to any disciplinary action.  

In general I think it is very important that the students are very aware of the behavior expectations of the schools. The adults need to be reminding students about these expectations. Some of the schools implement the PBIS model and I think more should. This is when students are aware of expectations and positive reinforcement is the priority. This is a research based method that does have effects on students behavior. They are rewarded for being "caught" doing the right thing, and positive interactions are at the forefront of the relationships between staff and students. This also helps to build relationships with staff and students.  Students need to have a go to adult in each building that they are in throughout the educational journey. I know our educators work everyday to build these relationships, but they need the support of administrators with policies that help facilitate these relationships. All of these things will help to do a better job building pride in our schools. If students are happy with the schools, if they feel happy and safe in those schools, they are more likely to behave in a more appropriate way.  

Recently we (the current school committee) unanimously voted to allow our superintendent to implement the practice of protective sweeps. There is still work to do in terms of what implementation will look like, but I am in support of this practice and policy. One of the most important jobs of a school administrator is to make the school that they are in charge of safe. I believe it is my job on the school committee to give the administrators tools that will help with this. I firmly believe that this new policy does just that.  I have attached a copy of the policy.  I would encourage people to read it and find out what this policy does and does not do. There is a lot of misinformation out there (POLICY JIH (Protective Sweeps). The other aspect I support is having SRO's (school resource officers) in our secondary schools.I believe these jobs can help create a positive relationship between our students and our officers. Currently the school committee has budgeted for those positions, however only one at Lynn English is filled.  
_______

For more on Dugan’s candidacy: 
_______

Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, November 7th!

Friday, October 6, 2023

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 2023Further, during the 2021-22 school year, the percentage of experienced teachers in the Lynn Public School district was: 

Experienced Teachers78.4%
Experienced Teachers in high poverty schools77.8%

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.
_____________

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

_____________

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. 

To confirm your polling place: Find my Election Information.

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Looking at the Limited English Proficiency Population Affected by Lynn's Overcrowding Issue

Earlier this week, Lynn public school educators and staff spoke out against the large class sizes plaguing the city's schools, a situation that Lynn Teachers Union president Sheila O'Neil said should "the last resort." Of note, those in attendance consistently commented on how these class sizes are specifically impacting students with early or limited English proficiency. 

As of this school year, the Lynn Public School District's population is 64.2% those whose first language is not English and 36.3% limited English proficiency. Across the district, the percent of students in these categories is largely consistent at the middle and high school levels. Lynn English does have the highest percentage of English language learners among these schools. 


Among the consequences of large or overcrowded classrooms are higher dropout rates. Breed teacher Sabrina Markham alluded to this in her school committee testimony on Monday saying that research indicates that students in smaller classes perform better academically in all areas. Markham also said that students in smaller classes "participate more and are more likely to interact with peers and teachers."

Dropouts in Massachusetts are defined as students who leave school during the academic year and do not return by the following October 1st. The dropout rate for English language learners for 2020-21 was 9% for the district as a whole. In other words, 9% of ELL students in Lynn left school during the 2020-21 academic year and had not returned by October 1, 2021. 

Dropout rates at the grade level varied by year and school; for example, Lynn Classical had a 16% dropout for 11th grade English language learners students last year while Lynn Tech had a 3.8% dropout rate for the same grade level and population. 

Given the significant population of English learner students in Lynn, it is fair to say that large or overcrowded classrooms disproportionately impact these students.

_______

Data: doe.mass.edu

Monday, May 9, 2022

Lynn Educators Call for Caps to Classroom Sizes, Fair Wages

On Monday, May 9th, educators including classroom teachers, paraprofessionals and parent liasions attended the special meeting of the Lynn School Committee in order to call for a cap to classroom sizes and for fairer, more equitable wages. 

The open mic session started with a Lynn Classical teacher, Alyssa Smiley, who noted that her Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) classes have grown over the years from approximately 20 students early English proficiency students to 30 and now 40 students. She called for a cap to classroom sizes and specifically noted that, for her students, it was easy to get off track because there were so many students in the classroom. David Poland, a social studies teacher also at Lynn Classical, agreed. Poland also teaches student who are new to the country and this year is doing so with 38 students in a conference room. He acknowledged that he believed that LCHS administration was "doing what it could do" given space constraints but said it was particularly challenging for his colleagues, three of whom as first year teachers. Poland also noted that attendance in classes was excellent and that students want to learn but class sizes are an impediment. According to the October 1st enrollment report from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), enrollment Lynn Classical is over 1,800 students.

Lynn English algebra teacher, Barbara Jones, gave a notable illustration of current overcrowding at Lynn English High School. Jones, who does not have her own classroom and pushes a cart between floors, teaches classes with 30, 38 and 43 limited English proficiency students in addition to supervising 37 students in study hall; in total, Jones is charged with 217 students per week. She referred to the current situation as "warehousing" students in a way to makes it difficult to build personal connections and exacerbates pandemic-related learning gaps. Like Classical, enrollment at Lynn English is also large with over 2,100 enrolled this year; the school enrolled 673 9th grades students as of October 1st and 536 10th graders. 


In total, there are over 5,100 students in grades 9 - 12 enrolled in LPS this school year between Lynn English, Lynn Classical, Lynn Tech and Fecteau Leary. 

The needs of newcomer and limited English proficiency students were raised by many who chose to speak. During the pandemic, educators pointed out that these newcomer students were being tasked with attempting to learn English, engaging in formal education for the first time in many years or ever, acclimating to the American school system, and now with large class sizes. Magalie Rowe, a teacher at Breed, noted that some of her students attend ESL courses through the Community Enrichment Program offered at Lynn Tech because of the barrier to learning present in LPS classrooms. Sheila O'Neil, president of the Lynn Teachers Union, highlighted that Lynn has a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to put a dent in the issues that the district has dealt with for years through additional funding that is coming to the district in the next few years. 

Classroom educators were not the only ones who chose to speak out at Monday's meeting. Speech and language pathologist Colleen O'Connell specifically spoke to the high case loads in her area. The governing body for speech and language pathologists calls for a median caseload of 48, per O'Connell; currently LPS speech and language pathologists have caseloads of 70 - 80 with some over 100. Further some of O'Connell's colleagues serve students in all grades and travel between multiple schools while others, according to her, fit students into their schedules based on convenience, not the actual needs of the students. Some LPS schools have no speech and language pathologist coverage at all this school year and the district currently has many vacancies as the high caseload is seen as a deterrent for applicants. 

Wages were also discussed with one paraprofessional saying, through tears, that her salary leaves her financially unable to support her family. A LPS grad and current parent liaison agreed saying that his current position does not offer adequate wages to support his financial obligations. In this line of discussion, a few educators said they often ask themselves the question "Why not go elsewhere?" with one noting that she could be paid $19,000 more to teach in Everett while another teacher who resides in Melrose wondered why she should continue to teach in this city versus another. Related to this sentiment, O'Neil called for more equitable wages and a fair contract for LTU educators. 

The open mic session lasted approximately an hour with calls for caps to classroom sizes/caseloads and fair wages common to the majority of speakers but, most notably, also respect. 

___

Monday, September 27, 2021

Lynn School Committee Candidate Q&A: Tiffany Magnolia

With half of the incumbent School Committee members opting to not run for re-election, this year offers Lynn voters the opportunity to elect at least three new committee members. Tiffany Magnolia, an English professor at North Shore Community, is one candidate running in the municipal election. Magnolia received a PhD in English from Tufts University in 2005 and, in addition to teaching at NSCC, has also taught at Wheaton College and the University of Massachusetts at Boston. 


Thanks for chatting with me, Tiffany! You previously ran for the Lynn School Committee in 2019; why did you make the decision to run again this year? 


The reason I ran in 2019 is that I didn’t see anyone on the SC who had both my level of expertise with education and my experience of being a parent to an LPS student. The perspective of a parent is one vantage point, but so isn’t a deep knowledge of educational policy, advocacy, and even theory. Because the SC in its entirety was re-elected in 2019, I decided to run again, because I think that perspective is still missing. Added to the fact that the only member of the SC with kids in the Lynn public schools was not running for SC in order to run for mayor, and it seemed especially important that the parent voice be present. I also want someone who shows up to the SC meetings with a deep knowledge of the possibilities in public education, and so I wanted to be that someone. There is a saying that workers in factories who were unionizing were doing so because they wanted bread, yes, but they wanted roses, too. The students of Lynn deserve roses as well as bread, and I think I have the perspective to ensure that both of those are delivered.


For those who don’t know, tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

I put myself through college, working selling furniture, and when I graduated in 1997, I did so with a “practical degree” in secondary education and English. I thought I was going to be a high school English teacher.  As an undergraduate, I was very involved in an organization called the Coalition for Essential Schools, an organization dedicated to the re-imagining of the possibilities of what public education could be. I travelled to New Mexico and Harlem to see Coalition schools in action (they were all public schools), and dreamed of teaching in one. However, I didn’t get any of the jobs I interviewed for that first year out of college, and I decided instead to try my hand at teaching at the college level.  While a graduate student at Tufts, I taught as an adjunct professor all over the Boston metropolitan area. I saw elite students at institutions like Wheaton college and Tufts, and students struggling to get into UMass Boston with a provisional admittance based on remedial English work, and everything in between. I really found my groove teaching at the college level, however, I never forgot my earlier training in education and educational policy. When I started at North Shore Community College in 2004, I found a way to meld my teaching in higher education with my earlier work in the K-12 world through union work, organizing, and professional development. I held many volunteer and paid positions in the Massachusetts Teachers Association over the years that I have been a member, including connecting locals within Essex county to legislators to work on education issues relevant to their locals. I took a pause from those activities when my daughter was born, 9 years ago, as juggling motherhood and a full time job is difficult enough.  However, the issues that have crept up as she began attending LPS have brought me back to those confluences in my life with an eye toward a different outlet than union activity.  



How do you think your experience in higher education as a professor informs the perspective that you would bring to the Lynn School Committee if elected this fall?

When I advise my students (most of whom are transferring), I talk to them about planning backwards.  What I mean is that I ask them to think about where they want to be in 5 or 10 years, and then we outline the steps that it would take to get to that destination.  In many ways, the perspective of seeing LPS graduates is a version of this “planning backwards.” If the goal of the LPS system is graduates alone, then there is no focus on what the schools should prepare students for after graduation.  If the focus is on a 55% postsecondary education and a 45% career transition, then we can plan backwards to see how the schools are preparing students for this transition.  Yes, kids at tech are prepared to go into their chosen field, but what happens to kids who change their minds?  I recently had a Tech graduate who went through the entire carpentry program, because even though she figured out in sophomore year that she really wanted to do healthcare, it was too late for a change.  So, she headed over to NSCC to get a Radiology degree.  Now, if that student was adequately prepared for post-secondary education, then that is a fine transition.  However, if she has only been prepared for transition into a career, then her options are gone, and she can only ever be a carpenter or a failure. That is not ok with me.  This is why looking at the graduates and their experiences gives a particular perspective on what LPS does well and where there is room for some innovation and shifting focus.


Obviously a big topic of discussion this year for school districts nationwide is the reopening of school buildings during the ongoing pandemic. How would you assess LPS’s approach and what do you think next steps are in terms of mitigating harm but also in supporting students?


Last spring when the students returned to school, LPS had a grant to cover batch testing of all students.  These tests became so routine that, like masks, they were just part of school.  Even though parents signed consent forms for the testing, at least in my daughter’s elementary school, testing hasn’t happened yet.  Given the fact that there have been 2 cases in the school in two weeks, it seems prudent that LPS do the batch testing again, at least in the elementary schools.  In the middle and high schools, it seems essential that the focus has to be on getting the kids vaccinated.  I know that there are a lot of anti-vaccine parents, but as an educational  system, the focus should be on educating families about the importance of the vaccine to both the individual and the community. I think that when there is a mandate without education, the school misses the opportunity to teach a public health lesson. Mask mandates are essential in the school, and should likely stay throughout the 2021-2022 school year until case numbers drop significantly. This small step leads not only to lower transmission of coronavirus but also to lower numbers of other viruses, especially the flu.


The second part of supporting students has to be in the mental health arena. Many parents I talk to just don’t feel like they have the skills to help their kids process what this last year and a half has been like. The isolation that a lot of kids are experiencing is going to lead to problems down the road if we can’t find a productive way of dealing with it.  Assuming that parents are up for that task is not a safe assumption. I would like to see drop in hours for students to talk with licensed mental health professionals just to check in and see how students are doing as well as group type activities to process and connect after a long time of isolation.


Demographics in LPS have changed significantly over the last few decades. Even in the last 10 years, the district has gone from 75.5% non-white to 86.9% and is currently 65% ‘economically disadvantaged,’ What, if any changes, do you think LPS needs to make in order to provide the best academic environment for all students, but particularly low income students and students of color?

Schools can’t be everything to a family or a community that has next to nothing, but they can be a lot of things. What I mean is that already schools feed students, give them free books, technology, and wireless internet access. We can, however, do even more, given some creativity and some money. Lynn is surprisingly absent of community spaces that are free of charge. I am co-leader of a girl scout troop here in Lynn, and finding a free meeting space is one of my hardest jobs.  Imagine that schools were able to be open one evening a week for enrichment for seniors, for girl scouts, for anything else that the community needs and wants.  This is the vision of a community school (Ford did this for many years), where the surrounding community compiled the needs and the school provided the space and in some cases the resources (think expertise). If the issue in the surrounding community is language acquisition, then the school could be a place for English classes. If it is financial management, then one of the many non-profits could hold classes on taxes or basic accounting.  There are many resources like this in Lynn, but they are disconnected with the schools. The model of the Lynn Community Health Center being present in the high schools is a good example of how these various community resources can work with the schools to meet many of the needs of the community better.  

With regards to racial justice, LPS needs to be deliberate and targeted in its recruitment of teachers and staff. I would like to see an early college cohort that has mentorship attached to it, which has students identified as potential teachers for LPS. Students of color and students for whom English is not the only language would benefit from the mentorship of someone who looks like them, encouraging them on the path of teaching. If LPS is looking to just recruit teachers who represent the diversity of the schools without actively encouraging the teaching profession to the students in those schools, they are missing an opportunity.


At times, there is a lot of emphasis placed on metrics like standardized test scores and graduation rates. When you hear the words ‘good school,’ how would you define that and what metrics are most important to you in making that assessment?


As an educator, you probably expect me to discuss something about a body of knowledge students should possess or a set of skills that they should emerge with. However, in seeing my own students over 20 years of teaching, I have come to value that the best schools help students to value learning. I see with my own daughter that it is less about whether she got an 80 or  70 on the test and more about if she got only 50% on the pre-test and 70% on the test, how exciting it is that she made progress.  This shows an intrinsic value to learning that is so much more valuable in the world after school, because even if a person’s job becomes obsolete, the information they need to retrain or to switch gears is part of a process rather than a finite goal. I would love to see the emphasis on assessment methods in school that are geared towards progress and engagement, moving students from where they are to the next step without an emphasis on benchmarks that say every student should be here at age 10 or 15.  These types of assessments do justice to folks with neurodiversity, language acquisition challenges, and learning differences, while not stigmatizing them.  In fact even the most advanced students can benefit from such assessment priorities. These types of assessments serve students well throughout their lives, and emphasize lifelong learning.


Finally to end on a light note - what are you reading/listening to/watching these days?


Because I am an English teacher who specializes in literature of the African diaspora, folks often think I read big heavy books all the time! Well, I have and I sometimes do, but honestly, since the pandemic started, all I have been reading is romance novels. I especially like LGBTQIA romances, but I also love historical fiction that has strong women defying traditions. Basically, I want to see decent people win in the end.  

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Lynn Primary Turnout Just 14.8%

On Tuesday, September 14th, Lynn voters cast their ballots in the municipal primary that saw three candidates vying to make the two spots available on the November ballot. Overall, turnout in the city was considerably low with just 14.8% of the Lynn's 55,595 registered voters participating in the primary. This year's turnout was comparable to turnout in 2009 and lower than 2013 where there were just two mayoral candidates both of whom moved forward to the November general election. 

Turnout varied across the city with the highest turnout in Ward 1 and the lowest in Ward 6.


Specifically in Ward 1, precincts 1 and 2 had decent turnout at 30% and 24.7% respectively. 



On the flip side, 7 ward precincts had voter turnout that was less 10%. Three of those precincts were in Ward 6 alone.  



Among the three mayoral candidates, current Lynn School Committee member Jared Nicholson was the top vote getter followed by current Ward 3 City Councilor and City Council President Darren Cyr. The two will face off in the November general election which will be held on Tuesday, November 2nd. 

Monday, August 30, 2021

Lynn Mayoral Candidate Q & A: Michael Satterwhite

In this September's municipal primary, three candidates are vying for the Lynn mayoral seat and two will move forward to the November general election. Two-term School Committee member Michael Satterwhite is one of those three candidates running for mayor this fall. Satterwhite is a lawyer who received a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts - Lowell and a law degree from the Massachusetts School of Law. In addition to his legal career as owner of the Satterwhite Law Firm, he has also worked with several community organizations including the North Shore Latino Business Association, the Haven Project and Lynn Community Connections.


Attorney Michael Satterwhite - The Satterwhite Law Firm, P.C.


I chatted with Michael regarding his candidacy for Mayor.


Thanks for chatting with me, Michael! You’ve been serving on the Lynn School Committee for four years; why did you make the decision to run for Mayor this year?


I appreciate the chance to chat. I am seeking the office because our city needs a visionary, someone who will work with every resident, every ward and every business to make Lynn better. There are trials and tribulations for everyone, some more than others, but I am proud to have come from Lynn and I would not change a minute of it because the struggle and hunger motivated me to be the man I am today. COVID-19 enhanced and brought to light many of the inequities most of us already knew existed. Lynn is set to get a substantial amount of federal funding; enough to bring real positive change to our City if we have the right leader in place. I would like to change these inequities for our current residents and future generations. Now is the time for enhancing the voices of the people that have been silent for too long and building a Lynn that is equitable for all residents and businesses. I have been in leadership roles over my career and I am the only small business owner running; I have the experience to get this very important job done. Our City has tremendous potential, I’ll listen to ideas from any source, and look to break down any barriers that impact the growth our City truly deserves. 


Obviously, the pandemic has been a major issue globally but specifically in the City of Lynn where over 17,000 residents have been diagnosed with the virus. If elected Mayor, what would be your first steps in helping Lynn through the recovery process?


Lynn’s total COVID-19 cases are about 20% of our population. As of June 9th, 48,707 Lynn residents are fully vaccinated and 9,045 are partially vaccinated. The first thing we have to do is give our businesses and residents a voice. Limited data is shared with the general public as to what actions the City took that succeeded or failed. Mental health is the first step in recovery and assuring that our residents have the information and the support needed to recover alongside the economy. Contact tracing was a vital component to stop the spread, but it was also an opportunity to see the quality of life our residents have and the obstacles they face. Education is vital and Lynn Public Schools play an important role in providing children with a sense of stability and normalcy and ensuring children have a routine and are emotionally supported to cope with a changing situation. The changes that worked for local businesses that should remain in place and the impact of employment for our residents are all

data and information we should be building upon. 



Related to the pandemic, you list ‘strengthening health and wellness’ as one of your concerns on your website. How has the last year informed your perspective on public health in general but also what your approach to this issue would be as a public servant?


Strengthening health and wellness is seen as a social concern, but they significantly impact our workforce readiness and the accessibility of our residents. Strengthening the health and wellness of our residents  is vital in closing the gap between where Lynn is now, and where we want to be. We made tremendous progress working within the community to get more than 50% of our population vaccinated, however, we have to continue working on our social support systems to develop a coordinated, accessible, responsible and caring network, with enhanced leadership, partnerships, capacity and services, and a focus on identified community priorities. This includes working on mental health, substance abuse and the violence that our City, like many others, face. We have to perfect our roadmap to success, which means making adjustments and using the progress we made on COVID to further recover from the other challenges our City faces. 


On your campaign website, you also commit to serving the entire Lynn population. Currently, what populations or areas of the city do you believe to be the most underserved? How would you better serve those areas or populations?

As Mayor I will serve every resident, every ward, and every business. We as a City should not be picking who succeeds and who doesn’t. We have real data to see where the underserved communities are. Every resident and business should have expectations from City leaders and that includes work on accessibility, affordability and activities. Everyday as your Mayor, I would work to improve accessibility in our City. Accessibility is vital for our underserved residents, such as our seniors, youth and families. Accessibility to education, housing, employment, transportation, voting and technology are all important to the success of our City. We can best serve our underserved communities by giving them a voice and a seat at the decision making table. 


Tell us a little bit about your plan to minimize homelessness and food insecurity. How can relationships between the City and existing community programs and organizations be strengthened in order to address these issues?


I am the only candidate that has been homelessness and faced food insecurity. I grew up in poverty and suffered homelessness at the age of 16. My life has been committed to working to minimize homelessness and food insecurity in our City. I serve on the Board for Good Hope and several years ago we brought a food bank to Lynn Community Connections Coalition (I serve on this Board). I also serve on the Board for the Haven Project which provides age appropriate services to our growing, vulnerable 17-24 year old homeless young adult population. I have volunteered with My Brother’s Table for over two decades. I have experience connecting our existing community programs over the last decade to strengthen the reach and impact on homelessness and food insecurity in our City. As Mayor, I will continue working with our 300+ nonprofits in the City to assure we are reaching and impacting our most vulnerable communities.


Discussion around public safety is often limited to conversations around policing. From your perspective, in thinking about a holistic view of public safety, what would be your approach to addressing this issue?


As Mayor, I will ensure that our City serves every resident, every ward, and every business. This includes all aspects of public safety and assuring that our public safety is community facing. Collaboration between the police and the community can help identify and solve our community problems. This will take involvement from every segment of the community. As Mayor, I will facilitate the conversation. We also have to focus on long-term initiatives that will address the root causes of crime and violence in our City. The 2020 Charles E. Shannon Community Safety Initiative on Lynn data assessed our Youth Risk to be at 43% Moderate Risk and 46% High Risk. The Community Risk Factors used for this data, included Lynn Population that lives in poverty (almost double the Massachusetts’ average), economically disadvantaged (almost double the Massachusetts’ average), and high school dropout rate (more than double the Massachusetts’ average). Working every day as Mayor on accessibility, affordability and activities would be a vital approach to addressing public safety. 


Finally, what skills and experiences make you most suited for the role of Mayor? Why should Lynn residents consider your candidacy for the position this fall?


I am the only candidate that has the knowledge and experience to meet the needs of all of us here in the City of Lynn. I’ve been doing it. My work will always involve working to improve accessibility, affordability and activities for our communities. I have been tested and I am ready to lead on day one. 


I am the only candidate to own successful small businesses in Lynn for the past 15 years. In addition to opening and successfully running two businesses here in Lynn (with additional locations in Revere and South Lee, Massachusetts), I worked as a Managing Attorney and also managed within other companies. Having experience managing operations and processes is vital for the success of our City. 


I am the only candidate that is a conciliator and mediator. I have spent countless hours volunteering within Lynn District Court and other departments of the Massachusetts Trial Court doing conflict resolution. Having a Mayor that listens and provides opportunities for our community to speak up, will help business owners and the public solve common problems, together. Having experience balancing the needs of our city's residents and businesses with our desired growth is vital for the success of our City. 


In all of my roles during the past 18 years, I have had a part in the budget process. During my time on the School Committee, I fought to make the budget process within Lynn Public Schools more equitable and that is now the process. Having experience managing a budget and making the process more equitable is vital for the success of our City. 


I have spent most of my life working on the basic needs of our community (families, seniors and youth), employment, housing, education, health, and community engagement and I plan on doing this every day as your Mayor. 


_______


For more information on Satterwhite: masforlynn.com


_______


You may also be interested in: