GREENFIELD — One is a long-time private school administrator, the other is a former non-commissioned Army officer with a master’s degree in education and a familiar face at the Greenfield YMCA. Both hope to be the next member of the Greenfield School Committee
Scott Smith and Don Alexander, both of Greenfield, have thrown their hats in the ring to fill the vacancy created when committee Vice Chairwoman Francia Wisnewski resigned earlier this summer to move to Montague.
The board will vote at its next regular meeting to decide who will get the seat, and who the next vice chairperson will be.
The one elected will fill the vacancy until the next regular election in early September 2017, at which time the vacancy will be filled by the voters.
Smith is a retired school administrator who spent 30 years in the field, most recently as the assistant head of school at the Fessenden School in West Newton from 2008 until last year, and in the same position and as a teacher at The Bement School in Deerfield from 1988 to 2008. He currently works part-time as a peer mediation counselor at Great Falls Middle School in Montague.
Smith said he raised his own children in Greenfield, where they received part of their education before going to independent schools. He said he wants to give back to the community through public service.
“That’s where my strength and wisdom lies, in school operations,” he said. “I want to be part of helping kids, really. That’s what I’ve always wanted to do and I’ve been really successful at it.”
Smith said he hopes to work toward incorporating more “21st century skills” and project-based learning into the school system’s curriculum, but wants to be sure it’s balanced with traditional styles of education since all students learn differently.
He said his experience in school administration would make him an asset when it came to hiring staff, and he has a solid background in school finance.
Funding schools adequately, he said, should be a priority in any community.
“I think as a society if we put money up front into schools, we’ll end up putting less into social services later,” he said. “When I see what these schools are up against money-wise, we’re missing a real opportunity to help kids be resilient citizens.”
Alexander retired from a 24-year military career in 2006 and moved to Greenfield shortly after. He started school at Greenfield Community College and went on to obtain his master’s in education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2014.
Now the membership coordinator at the YMCA and father of a Greenfield High School student going into her senior year, Alexander said he wants to give back to the community.
“I think everyone should participate in their community at least once in their life,” he said.
Alexander said one of his biggest motivations for seeking the seat is to do his part to improve the social climate within the school system.
“We’ve seen a bit of ugly behavior, some negative thought patterns, and I’d like to be there to help the kids. Some of the older kids would like to change that mindset and get everyone thinking more positively,” Alexander said, citing incidents involving students fighting at the school this past spring. “My role on the school committee is to help the community come up with ideas to fight bullying.”
He said he hopes to push the district further into the 21st century, expanding on new technologies — especially in the brand new high school — and cutting-edge learning.
You can reach Tom Relihan at: 413-772-0261, ext 264
or: trelihan@recorder.com
On Twitter: @RecorderTom