The Everett School Committee has historically been less than competitive over the years in political races, but the cap has seemingly been removed from the bottle this year, and not only are there several contested races, but as of this week there will be at least one Preliminary Election contest for School Committee, and likely two.
On Monday, Ward 6 School Committee was assured a Preliminary on Sept. 21 when incumbent Member Tom Abruzzese and current Ward 6 City Councilor Michael McLaughlin were certified for the ballot – joining already-certified Catherine Tomassi Hicks.
“That’s the way it should be,” said Abruzzese. “I’ve been on and off the School Committee for 20 years and it’s the first time I’ve been involved in a Preliminary. I can’t even recall there being a Mayoral Preliminary and I remember back to George McCarthy and Mayor Plunkett. It’s exciting and it will be new and different. Hopefully my record speaks for itself. I’d like to think I had a big
The Everett City Council met on Monday night and approved a plan to move their meetings to the Everett High School Library while their Chambers are being updated for better online capabilities, while at the same time approving a new Council rule that sets a code of decorum for remote online meetings.
The Council informally agreed to an offer from School Committee Chair Frank Parker and Supt. Priya Tahiliani to move in-person and remote meetings to the Everett High Library – where the School Committee holds their meetings currently. The move would take place soon while the Everett Council Chambers are being refurbished and updated for better online capabilities and more COVID-conducive seating arrangements. The massive overhaul is expected to take several months.
The biggest news out of what was to be a very eventful City Council meeting on Monday night was the fact that it was over before it started.
Major technical issues once-again at ECTV prevented the Council from pulling off an online meeting, frustrating members of the Council who said they are at the mercy of the leadership of ECTV and tired of looking foolish as they try unsuccessfully time and again to have online meetings.
This comes as virtually every other board in the City – from the Retirement Board to the Planning Board to the School Committee – routinely hold online meetings successfully and have done so for months. At the Council, though, getting an online meeting going has been elusive.