Mount Greylock Candidates Make Their Cases
 Candidates for Mount Greylock Regional School Committee participated in a forum last month with Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, second from left, as moderator. |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The electorate in Williamstown and Lanesborough will have a tough decision to make in the ballot box on Tuesday.
But the candidates they have to choose from would be the first to tell the voters: They can't go wrong.
Three candidates are standing for two of the four-year seats available for Williamstown's representation on the Mount Greylock Regional School District Committee.
Voters in both of the district's member towns cast ballots in all races for the School Committee. By rule, three members of the seven-person committee reside in the town of Lanesborough; the rest live in Williamstown.
Two four-year Lanesborough seats are on the ballot with two candidates in the running. Incumbent Chris Dodig is seeking another term, and Richard Cohen is running for the seat formerly held by Robert Ericson.
In Williamstown, Gary Fuls is running in his own right to fill out the remaining two years on a four-year term that he assumed on an interim basis this summer when David Backus moved out of state.
Two additional four-year seats are up for grabs from Williamstown residents. Incumbent Carolyn Greene is running to retain her seat, while David Langston chose not to try for another term, creating an open seat.
To fill those two seats, there are three choices: Greene, Steven Miller and Wendy Penner.
All three participated in October in a candidate's forum hosted by the Williamstown League of Women Voters, moderated by state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, D-North Adams, and televised by the town's community access television station, WilliNet.
One theme that emerged is that the three candidates mostly were in agreement with one another about the challenges facing the district, and although each brings would bring a different skill set to the job, it was clear that any one of them would bring value to the committee.
"They're so qualified, we should vote for them," quipped Penner after each of her opponents summarized their experience.
Obviously, one candidate brings more direct experience in the task at hand. Greene has served on the regional school committee since 2009 and has chaired it for the last two years.
"I feel like I have a commitment to see through many of the projects I've been working on at Mount Greylock," she said, referring to the current feasibility study to look at the possibility of renovating or rebuilding the school, the search for a new superintendent, the expansion of the region to a K-through-12 district, and other projects.
"I've enjoyed building connections with state and local representatives and with the state bureaucracy."
In her "off hours" from the Mount Greylock School Committee, Greene is the director of commencement and academic events at Williams College, making her one of two college employees in the running for one of the three seats.
Miller is an associate professor in the college's math department. Penner is a self-employed psychologist with a doctorate in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan.
Each of the potential newcomers to the committee said their professional experience would be an asset to their work for the district if elected.
Penner said her training as an organizational psychologist helps her look at how systems work and how to bring different constituencies to the table.
She also has local experience as a community organizer — currently as the chair of the town's COOL (Carbon Dioxide Lowering) Committee and in the past as a one of the people who helped organize support for the now 10-year-old elementary school.
She likened that process to the one the regional district faces.
"The challenge of creating a new building seemed overwhelming, and it was inspiring to be part of the [property tax] override effort that was needed," she said. "It was exciting to be part of the study group to see how [the school] could be green and sustainable.
"When there was a budgetary crisis, it was inspiring to see everyone come together to reduce the footprint of the school and still be able to continue to provide the services needed."
Miller noted that he also brings experience in looking at ways to deal with outdated buildings. He is part of the process at the college, which is addressing the Bronfman Science Center, where the math department is headquartered.
"I used to view myself as a researcher, and now I view myself more as a program director," Miller said. "The last few years, I've been heavily involved on the administrative side of things."
Miller is a frequent participant in and lecturer at regional and national conferences on secondary education in mathematics. And he maintains a Math Riddles website designed for use in middle and high school classrooms that generates more than 4,000 hits per month.
That project — and Miller's passion for technology in the classroom — prompted one of the few points of mild disagreement at the candidates forum.
All three were asked their thoughts about the place of online learning.
Miller and Penner both enthusiastically extolled the possibilities of online education. Greene was more circumspect, noting that Web-based learning is one tool.
"I agree with a lot of what Steve and Wendy said, but I have to say, I have mixed feelings," she said. "The key to a great education is the personal connection. ... We have to be smart about how we use technology.
"Technology is important right now. Mount Greylock has been behind in our ability to offer technological resources, but we're working hard to catch up."
Voters go to the polls in both towns on Tuesday, Nov. 4, to decide this race, several statewide races, the congressional race and four public questions.
The entire forum can be viewed at www.willinet.org.
Tags: election 2014, MGRHS, school committee,
