WESTFIELD — Two incumbents and four challengers are competing for three seats on the Westfield School Committee in the city’s Nov. 2 election.

Timothy O’Connor of Falley Drive and Heather Sullivan of Overlook Drive are running for re-election, with Martha Breton of East Mountain Road, Jeffrey Gosselin of Elm Street, Kathleen Hillman of Susan Drive and Tom Lewis of Pineridge Drive also on the ballot. The third current School Committee member whose term is expiring, Cindy Sullivan, chose not to run for re-election.

All three seats are for four-year terms representing the city at large. All six candidates will appear on ballots in every precinct.

Reminder Publishing sent the six candidates identical questionnaires covering several topics of interest to voters. The candidates’ answers to two of the questions follow, in their own words. Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 150 words. Responses are listed in the order that candidates will be listed in the ballot: incumbents first, in alphabetical order, then challengers, in alphabetical order.

Q: What is the most important challenge facing Westfield schools in the next four years, and how will you address it?

Timothy O’Connor: As a result of the pandemic, school closings and distance learning have contributed to some learning loss within a number of different student subsets, as well as contributing to an increasing number of social-emotional conditions. Addressing social-emotional needs must become a priority across all student populations. This will require a prioritization of strategies, including reconnecting students, teachers and families to help maintain relationships. Our school system also needs to continue to be cognizant of any growing equity learning gaps and employ learning strategies to help address the educational challenges that developed over the last 18 months. I am proud of the commitment teachers/administrators have made to adapt to individual student needs, but they will need the School Committee’s support in ensuring that ESSER funding is allocated appropriately and put in place to provide tools that will be needed to help bridge any gaps for this year, and beyond.

Heather Sullivan: I want to identify our newest problems created by the pandemic and create solutions so that any gaps our students might have are filled in. We know that hiring and retaining staff is at the top of that list. We need to be prepared to pay a competitive salary to retain the best people we can to do this important work. This is a difficult balance for any community, but necessary for our students to get ahead. I will be joining committees that support these changes.

Martha Breton: In my opinion, the most important challenge facing Westfield’s schools in the next four years is to restore our schools to in-person teaching in an environment that is safe in all ways for both students and teachers, without the harmful and divisiveness of today’s politics.

Jeffrey Gosselin: The most important challenge facing Westfield schools in the next four years is to create a long-range plan and vision for our community. In 2014-15, we had a very difficult and challenging time trying to implement a new redistricting plan. I believe that too many changes were taking place without enough long-range planning. We had a new superintendent, a closure of a school site, and many of our most talented leaders were stepping down or retiring, as well as new mandates from the state. Our talented employees, with a wealth of knowledge, cannot easily be replaced. I believe we are in the midst of an identity crisis, and we need to create a model district that includes a more universal approach. I would address this by reviewing our deficiencies and areas of weakness, so that we can move forward as a school community.

Kathleen Hillman: The biggest challenge facing Westfield schools is the rebuilding after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our world was turned upside down. Teachers, students, administrators, school committees and parents have had to make difficult decisions concerning children. Many decisions made by all parties have created a sometimes challenging situation. We all want what is best for the children of Westfield.
I see a three-fold challenge: 1. On an administration level, there is a teacher and school personnel shortage. 2. On a student level, some children have experienced a learning gap, while other students have thrived with remote learning. 3. On the mental health level, the educational community has suffered from social disconnection and lack of cohesive interactive learning.
These are complicated issues and I pledge to work with other members to resolve these issues.

Tom Lewis: The most important challenge facing our schools is improving academic achievement at each level across the entire district, and using objective metrics to hold administrators accountable for this improvement. In 2017, WHS was a 28th percentile school; in 2019 and 2020 it regressed to a 25th percentile school. And while the state does not create percentiles for lower grades taking the MCAS, those scores are right in line with the high school’s. If we analyze all our results, including MCAS, SAT, ACT and AP tests, we rank lower than most school districts in our area. We need to change the culture in our schools and begin to have better accountability from our administrators. One way to do this is to use the objective measures we already have in the elementary grades and create remediation programs geared to keep students as close to grade level learning as possible.

Q: What three goals do you hope to have accomplished at the end of your four-year term?

Timothy O’Connor: 1. Opening a new elementary school. Address long-overdue infrastructure needs at Franklin Avenue and Abner Gibbs, and provide students with a centralized and state-of-the-art learning setting, as well as provide safe and healthy environments for teachers and students.
2. Creating an early childhood solution that meets the needs of all Westfield families. Participation in a quality early education program provides for educational, social and developmental benefits. Early childhood education also provides alignment in teaching and learning across the full early childhood continuum.
3. A long-term capital plan that addresses the facility needs at WHS and WTA. While we need to be cognizant of costs, we should formally address the infrastructure needs across both high schools, including building upgrades or new building construction. We must also address improvements to athletic fields, tracks, swimming pool, performance venues and other building needs to accommodate community programs.

Heather Sullivan: I would like to see a systemic change in our special education program. There should be consistent programming for the needs of our students from grades K to 12. Secondly, I want to strive to continue to improve and maintain our technology infrastructure for our students and staff. Technology changes so quickly that we want to be sure we are ready and able to move with it. Lastly, I want to staff all programs so our students can be successful. That means that we need to be sure we are doing our part to attract and retain the best staff, in all our schools, to work directly with our students.

Martha Breton: My three goals for this next term are:
1. To make sure the curriculum in our schools respects our nation’s core founding principles, to respect Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
2. To regain the trust and safety of all parents, teachers, and students in our school system.
3. To ensure that parental rights be respected and to make our parents and students feel comfortable in voicing their concerns at our School Committee meetings.

Jeffrey Gosselin: Three goals I wish to accomplish at the end of my term would be: to create a long-range district plan that includes all of our community partnerships; an improved budget that is solid and strong as we move forward; and to create a more inclusive and universal school identity of open thinkers, ready to continue learning.

Kathleen Hillman: Goal 1, student achievement. Improve school and district performance by 2025. Curriculum should be aligned throughout grade levels, emphasizing critical thinking and application for all students. Finally, provide all necessary information to both parents and students to ensure academic success toward graduation and post-graduation endeavors.
Goal 2, counseling. The district’s counseling program should focus on meeting the emotional needs of our students, including an emphasis on drug prevention. A comprehensive drug education and prevention program should be coordinated throughout the district and community to reduce drug use, enabling all students to have a clear and open mind for learning within a safe learning environment.
Goal 3, build an outside learning pavilion at each school. The pandemic required our students to be separated, and an outdoor learning environment would provide an alternate space.

Tom Lewis: First, it is important to recognize that the School Committee has six elected members (seven, including the mayor). As one person, I have little ability to actually accomplish any task on my own. It is through discussion, debate and reaching agreements with the other members that I would hope to effect change. There is an old saying, “If you always do what you’ve always done, then you will always get what you’ve always got.” We need to make positive change within our schools. With that said, my three major focus areas would include: prioritizing improved academic achievement at all levels across the district; creating a more objective set of measurements for administration to be held accountable in helping create the change needed effect this academic achievement; and to focus on creating a capital campaign to help address the many infrastructure needs facing our schools.

More questions and answers

Reminder Publishing’s voter guide will continue in the pages of The Westfield News over the next week and a half. Pick up the newspaper for School Committee questions and answers every other day, starting Oct. 22, along with election-related articles, candidate statements and letters to the editor. To add your thoughts to the conversation, send your letter to the editor to pressreleases@thewestfieldnews.com, or 181 Root Road, Westfield, MA 01085.

The three School Committee members elected in November will take office in January 2022.