Meet the 3 candidates for Springfield School Committee District 3
SPRINGFIELD — Rosa M. Valentin, Steven P. Carosello and Christopher Collins are running for the District 3 seat on the Springfield School Committee , representing Wards 6 and 7.
The preliminary election is Tuesday, Sept. 9.
"I have seen first-hand the power of public education to change lives," Valentin said this week in an interview, introducing herself as a former educator in Puerto Rico and mother of two successful Springfield schools graduates.
She called for an educational system that is not one-sized fits all.
"Where opportunity is not based on where you live," she said. "I believe we can do even better."
The Springfield School Committee includes the mayor, Domenic J. Sarno, ex officio, as well as two members who are elected at-large; and four members who are elected by ward representation. The term is four years — not the two years City Council members serve — and committee members are paid $18,000 a year.
Wards 6 and 7 cover Springfield's Forest Park, East Forest Park and Sixteen Acres neighborhoods.
Rosa M. Valentin is running for the District 3 seat on the Springfield School Committee. (Provided)The Republican
Collins, a former teacher and school principal, has served on the School Committee for 16 years.
"No one knows better what programs and what things are needed in a school than the school itself," Collins said.
He noted significant improvement in the city schools in the past few years, driven in part by state and federal spending coming out of COVID-19. It's funding, he fears, may not continue.
So it's important to protect successful programs, like Springfield's universal pre-kindergarten program available to 3- and 4-year-olds, he said.
"Data is showing it's making an impact," Collins said.
Steven P. Carosello is running for Springfield School Committee in District 3 covering Wards 6 and 7. (Provided)The Republican
"We need to make sure that we keep that as a line item and not a temporary item in the budget."
A priority for Collins, he has been encouraging new teachers with a successful program that helps paraprofessionals return to school themselves to earn teaching credentials.
He'd like to expand that outreach to high school students themselves, establishing future teacher clubs to direct students to community colleges and four-year education programs.
He voted against Superintendent Sonia Dinnall's appointment last year.
But Collins said he's very happy with Dinnall's performance and with the progress he sees.
Candidate Steven P. Carosello said he was frustrated with the superintendent search and would have liked to get more student voices.
A longtime Sixteen Acres resident, Carosello took over the family home in 2018.
He's worked for the Sheriff's office in Worcester County doing re-entry work, as a social worker for the state Division of Children and Family Services — including as the LGBTQ consultant for the Western Region — and now works for the Cannabis Control Commission.
"I've spent my career helping to build systems to support people," he said.
He spoke of the need for career prep and vocational education throughout the district.
"We need someone to advocate for additional resources throughout the city" and the need for better safety in and round schools. Carosello said,
In general, he said voters are telling him of dissatisfaction with schools. They mention bullying, among other complaints.
"They are frustrated," he said.
Stories by Jim Kinney
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