Meet the candidate: Bob Cantin faces off with incumbent McCarthy for School Committee at-large
CHICOPEE — A longtime Chicopee Public Schools educator and administrator is seeking a seat on the School Committee as its at-large member.
Robert "Bob" Cantin, 66, a lifelong Chicopee resident, is a newcomer and will go head-to-head with Mark McCarthy , who was chosen last year to be the at-large member by a Special Committee of the City Council and School Committee.
McCarthy carried out the final year of Chester "Chet" Szetela, who stepped down from the position last fall.
Ahead of Tuesday, Nov. 4, The Republican reached out to all candidates for the opposed City Council and School Committee seats to answer a short questionnaire.
Each council candidate was asked the same four questions. A different set of four identical questions were sent to the candidates for School Committee.
Over the next several days, The Republican will be publishing the candidates' answers to the questions in print. Find more candidates and responses at masslive.com/topic/election .
Name:Robert "Bob" Cantin
Age:66
Address:College Street
Profession:Retired teacher/administrator, Chicopee Public Schools
Position running for:Chicopee School Committee at-large member
Introductory statement:
I am a lifelong resident of Chicopee and a proud graduate of the Chicopee Public School system. Our public schools are constantly evolving and require ongoing oversight and timely interventions to ensure that the system operates at its highest potential.
I have worked in the Chicopee Public Schools for nearly 20 years, serving as a teacher for 17 of those years. After earning my master's degree, I joined the administrative team at Chicopee Comprehensive High School as the Academic CTE Coordinator.
The experience I have gained through communication and collaboration with teachers, students, parents, and district administrators has equipped me with the knowledge and skills necessary to serve effectively on the School Committee.
Question #1: What letter grade would you give the school system? Why?
I would give Chicopee a B. Although there has been some recent progress, there is still more work to be accomplished. Issues such as staff retention, student discipline, rising health care costs, and time management— particularly regarding curriculum updates and professional development — continue to present challenges.
Question #2: What is the biggest challenge the schools face?
The biggest challenge is the budget. In order for Chicopee to remain competitive with other districts in terms of staffing and program offerings, the budget must be increased beyond current level funding. The budget affects every aspect of the school system, including educational programs, after-school activities, athletics, transportation, and more.
Question #3: The school budget is roughly two-thirds of the city budget, and there are concerns about federal and state assistance dropping. How should the School Committee address any loss of funding?
With ongoing building renovations and the construction of new schools, the district's budget should undergo a comprehensive review to identify shortfalls and develop strategies to address them. Level funding is not sufficient to ensure that teachers, students, and families have the resources needed to create a safe and positive learning environment. The City Council, School Committee, and Grants Department should collaborate to explore and secure additional sources of income to supplement the current budget.
Question #4: With the MCAS no longer a condition for graduation, what should the diploma requirements be?
Students must have a well-rounded knowledge base to succeed in college, the workforce, or the military. Diploma requirements should reflect a student's performance over their entire four years of high school, rather than relying on a single test. To demonstrate proficiency, students should meet or exceed expectations in each discipline annually. Additionally, the current passing grade of 60% should be raised to a minimum of 70% in all subject areas to ensure a stronger academic foundation.
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