School Committee hopefuls describe push for new school

May 22, 2019 | Payton North
payton@thereminder.com

Screengrab from East Longmeadow School Committee website.

EAST LONGMEADOW – The Town of East Longmeadow is hosting their annual town election on June 4. There are no questions on this year’s ballot, and there are no contested races this year. Bearing this in mind, Reminder Publishing decided to still reach out to the individuals running for office to ensure that residents can learn more about candidates who will be joining the local government.

In the May 9 edition of The Reminder, we offered an article on the three individuals who are up for election to the East Longmeadow Town Council for three-year terms: Kathleen Hill, Patrick Henry and Ralph Page.  Head to https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/eastlongmeadow/town-council-candidates-discuss-backgrounds-town-c/ for that story.

This week, Reminder Publishing connected with the two candidates for two open seats on the School Committee: current Committee member William Fonseca and resident Antonella Raschilla. Both will have the opportunity to serve three-year terms on the Committee.

The following is a lightly edited question-and-answer style interview with both Fonseca and Raschilla.

Reminder Publishing: Please share your background and experience and how it relates to a position on the School Committee.

Fonseca: My education background includes policy and budget. I was a department manager for the Stop & Shop Supermarket Company for 40 years and gained experience in working with budgets and developing polices. I was on several committees prior to being first elected to the School Committee 14 years ago, including the Open Space Committee and the Town Meeting By-Law Review Committee. I also attended most of the School Committee meetings prior to being first elected to get up to speed on what issues were facing the schools then. I also attended Board of Selectmen meetings to stay up on what was happening in Town at the time. Through my years on the School Committee I have stayed in other Town Committees. I was a member of the Charter Commission and am currently the School Committee Rep on the Open Space Committee.

Raschilla: I have been a professional educator for the past 14 years in Springfield Public Schools.  I began as an ELA teacher and am currently an ELA Instructional Leadership Specialist.  I believe that this relates to the position on the School Committee because I have experience in Secondary Education with my profession.  I also have experience working and collaborating with teachers, administrators, parents, and students in creating the best plans to make students successful.  I would like to bring this experience to East Longmeadow Public Schools.

Reminder Publishing: Why did you decide to run for the School Committee?

Fonseca: Simply said, I am still passionate about education. I enjoy working with my fellow Committee members as we take on the challenges facing our schools. I enjoy walking around our schools and interacting with the teachers and students. I am retired; therefore have the time to do what is necessary for this important position. I want to provide the best education possible for everyone.

Raschilla: I am a proud product of the East Longmeadow community and of East Longmeadow Public Schools.  I grew up here with my parents, older sister, and two younger brothers on Westwood Avenue.  East Longmeadow created the foundation which I was able to be successful in education and in my career. With this foundation, the educational system prepared me for both college and professional career. I have always been close to this community and I am now an honored homeowner in the town and would like to give back to the community that shaped me into the professional I am today.  

Reminder Publishing: What do you feel are the most important issues facing the school district at this time?

Fonseca: The two most important issues facing the school district at this time in my mind are the condition of the High School and the need for a new building and expanding our social emotional support for all of our students.

Raschilla: Two important issues that I would like to help improve in the district are having quality learning environments and preparing students to be college and career ready.

Reminder Publishing: How do you plan to work to address the aforementioned issues over the course of your term?

Fonseca: I will continue to advocate to for a new High School. It is important to educate the residents about the process of getting accepted into the MSBA program. It is a lengthy process and I am available to answer any questions anyone may have. Another area is to expand our social emotional support for all students in all grades. It is my goal to continue to push for this and remain fiscally conservative. The cost of education is constantly going up.  I believe we need support for those who need it in all grades, starting at Meadowbrook and continuing into the High School. I will continue to advocate for this support in the critical area.

Raschilla: Students and teachers require dignified places of learning and teaching.  The physical infrastructure of schools in East Longmeadow require upgrades or a new facility.  We must ensure investments are being made from a district level leading to the highest quality learning environments and experience for all students. We can do this by addressing the following:
•Physical upgrades to ensure physical accessibility and necessary climate systems (AC+ heat)
•Whole child investment: socio-emotional services
•21st century facility

We also need our students to be college and career ready.  Our students need to be ready to become productive products of our community and preparing them with skills will help build that foundation for keeping jobs.  We should prepare students with the academic and social foundations necessary to succeed. Students should have a great education and real-world experiences that prepare them for success after high school.  Every student should be prepared to go to college or make the decision to pursue a career pathway. This can be done by addressing the following:
•College aligned expectations and coursework: high quality preschool, investment in early literacy in primary school, and concurrent and dual enrollment and AP in secondary school
•Career access: job shadowing, apprenticeships, and internships.
•College and career staff and partnerships: staff actively counseling students to help them navigate postsecondary options.

Reminder Publishing: What are your thoughts on the MSBA’s school building selection process? What do you feel is the town’s best option moving forward in regard to the High School project?

Fonseca: We have just submitted our Statement of Interest to the MSBA for a sixth year. I feel this is a fair process and we must stay the course and hope we get invited in this year. It is hard to walk away from a reimbursement rate of 55 percent. I do not think there is much debate around the fact that we have an aging building and are in need of a new High School. It will ultimately be decided by the residents of this town how we proceed once we get invited into the process.

Raschilla: I think that the MSBA’s school building selection process is carefully done.  The panel tries to choose the buildings with the highest needs.  Hopefully the visit state officials made to ELHS will help make their decision on getting us approved.  I think we just need to keep applying and if we get approved, then we need to look at what the best options are for the town and our students.

Reminder Publishing: Why should the residents of East Longmeadow vote for you?

Fonseca: As I said, I am still passionate about education and I want to continue to serve and advocate providing the best education possible to everyone. I have 14 years of experience to offer as my commitment to continue to serve on the School Committee. I will be honored to continue to serve, if elected again.

Raschilla: I would like to give the students of East Longmeadow Public Schools the opportunity to experience an equally solid educational foundation for the future.  I have the experience and commitment to make this happen if elected to be a member of the East Longmeadow School Committee.

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