Thompson re-enters public service with Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee

Aug. 25, 2016 | Chris Goudreau
cgoudreau@thereminder.com

Former six-term Selectman Jim Thompson was the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen’s top choice to fill a seat on the committee vacated by former School Committee Chair Peter Salerno.
Reminder Publications photo by Chris Goudreau

WILBRAHAM – Former six-term Selectman Jim Thompson is back in public office after he was appointed to the School Committee as former School Committee Chair Peter Salerno’s successor.

Salerno served on the committee for 17 consecutive years before resigning in June.  

The School Committee and the Board of Selectmen interviewed seven candidates during its Aug. 17 joint meeting. Other individuals who were interviewed for the position included Hampden Police Chief Jeffery Farnsworth, former longtime Minnechaug Regional High School teacher and swim coach Patricia McDiarmid, former School Committee member John McCarthy, Aaron Tillberry, Tom Garvey, and Patrick Kiernan.

An eighth candidate, Linda Prystupa, withdrew her name from the running earlier during the day of the meeting.

During his interview, Thompson said he works manages the Easthampton-based October Company on a day-to-day basis. The company has operations in China and Vietnam as well.

He also highlighted his experience as a selectman and the five years he spent serving on the Finance Committee.

“I think both boards would say that I’m a good listener,” he noted. “When it comes to public policy, I’m a consensus builder. That’s the same type of approach that I would bring to the School Committee.”

Thompson said he’s served in public office for 19 years.

“I’m comfortable working in groups,” he noted. “I think folks at the October Company would tell you that I’m a team builder. I like input. I like good discussions. I like opposing points of view because opposing points of view can become your own point of view over a period of time if you listen. It doesn’t mean it’s going to happen all the time, it just means it can happen.”

School Committee member Sean Kennedy asked Thompson whether he would be prepared to tackle issues such as union negotiations, developments of polices, procedures, and budgetary practices.

Thompson said he works to research issues before making a decision, which he described as a “double-edged sword” because he believes he can be “painfully slow” in making a decision.

“I want to be comfortable that I have all the information before I’m going to say, ‘Yeah, I’m willing to go forward and make this policy decision,’” he added.

He noted he’s been involved with teacher’s union negotiations twice in the past while serving as a selectman.   

School Committee member William Bontempi asked Thompson to share his thoughts about the district’s ongoing decline in enrollment and budgetary difficulties during the past few years.

“I think the school district needs to be more aggressive in trying to find funding,” Thompson said. “I think part of that has to do with working with local representatives – our senator, our house [representatives] – I honestly think the more we can be in front of people like that, the more dialog we can have, the better chance we have of getting an understanding of the difficulties that we as a district are facing.”

Selectman Robert Russell asked if Thompson plans to run for reelection once the seat expires in the spring of 2017.

“I’d have to feel like I’m making a meaningful contribution to the School Committee,” Thompson responded. “If I felt that I was not making a meaningful contribution, I’m not going to hold a space. That’s not why I’m doing it. Would I consider it? Yes.”

After the interviews, the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen discussed its top choices for candidates.

Kennedy compared the race for the School Committee seat to Olympic swimmers, noting that each of his top candidates came in after one another within a “tenth of a second.”

He added, “It seems like were dealing with just incredibly competent people and it’s just microscopic little differences. I think we’re going to be great no matter what the outcome is today. I’m really excited.”

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