School Committee candidates quizzed on topics

Yahoo

13-03-2025

ANDOVER — School Committee candidates told voters how they would handle issues in the district during a public forum last Wednesday night.
The Andover Candidates Forum was held at Memorial Hall Library and hosted by the League of Women Voters of Andover-North Andover.
Four candidates are vying for two School Committee seats in the town election March 25. Those candidates include two current members, Emily DiCesaro and Sandis Wright. Christopher Shepley and Jacob Tamarkin are looking to unseat the incumbents.
It is the only contested race on the ballot.
During the forum, the candidates were questioned on a range of topics, including student mental health, bus cameras, balancing the budget, and how they would ensure curriculum consistency in district schools.
One question revolved around how each candidate would categorize the relationship between the current School Committee, superintendent and Andover Education Association and how to improve the relationship while making sure students are a top priority.
Wright said there is an opportunity to improve the relationship between the union, administration and School Committee but it takes all three to do so.
He said he reached out to the Andover Education Association president last summer to see where there were shared commonalities. Wright said he encouraged the union to work with the superintendent.
DiCesaro agreed it is important to strengthen that relationship and said she has seen more communication between administrators and the union.
She said there are now informal forums at the schools to encourage educators to speak.
'We can find ways to find common ground,' DiCesaro said. 'We are all here for the students. I think remembering that is really important as we start to build that relationship back up.'
Shepley said teachers' morale is low.
'We need to understand our educators in town have suffered years of disrespect from the School Committee,' he said. 'I feel they are not being heard.'
Shepley referenced a no-confidence vote in Superintendent Magda Parvey last spring. He said it was 'largely ignored by the School Committee' and thought it was a big mistake not doing anything.
Tamarkin said other communities bring in mediators after strikes and it is something he would like to do.
Tamarkin added that while he thinks the committee wants to support Parvey, she can be undermined by good intentions. He said she's the chief executive and it needs to be understood.
'Too often it's unclear who the real authority figure is,' Tamarkin said. 'I would love to see the committee do more to empower her more.'
About the candidates
DiCesaro moved to Andover in 2013, drawn to the schools and the town's commitment to education. She has served on the School Committee since 2022. DiCesaro is a professional in human-centered user experience design for IBM.
She is proud of what the committee has accomplished during her time, advocating for responsible budgeting, and strengthening academic programs and social-emotional support for students.
'It's been an honor to serve as an independent voice representing the citizens of Andover,' DiCesaro said.
Shepley is a lifelong resident of Andover. He graduated from Andover High School in 2024 and is now a student at UMass Lowell. Shepley is also a member of the Ballardvale Historic District Commission.
'Our schools need leadership that listens, plans responsibly and puts students first,' Shepley said.
He said too often decisions are made behind closed doors and the budget is mismanaged. Shepley said his campaign is built on fiscal responsibility, renewed academic excellence and giving a voice to the community.
Tamarkin said he moved to Andover in 2017, seeing a chance to provide his family with better opportunities. He is the CEO of an innovative, investor-backed start-up and worked on Wall Street for 20 years. Tamarkin said he wants to use his financial expertise to help the committee.
'Our schools are not reaching their potential and I can help,' Tamarkin said.
Wright has been an Andover resident for 15 years and a School Committee member since 2022. He is vice chair of the committee. Wright is a managing director for Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. He wants to build on his experience and what has been accomplished during his first term.
'What we need is experience,' Wright said.
The ballot
Voters will also cast their votes in four uncontested races.
Town Moderator Sheila Doherty will run for reelection to a one-year term.
Select Board member Melissa Danisch and Vice Chair Alex Vispoli are running uncontested for two three-year terms.
Steven Pekock is running for a three-year term on the Trustees of the Punchard Free School while Jennifer Hoenig is seeking a five-year term with the Andover Housing Authority.