NORTHFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Regional School District School Committee will welcome four new members Thursday for its first meeting since the Nov. 3 election.
The newly elected members are Julie Burke and Reina Dastous, both of Northfield, and Nathan Swartz and Alan Genovese, both of Warwick. Three sitting members — Jim Bell of Bernardston, Michele Giarusso of Leyden and David Young of Warwick — were re-elected.
The successful candidates were notified of the election results on Tuesday. School administrators sent the new members documents to review, and Burke said she plans to talk with current member Kristen Gonzalez for a “crash course” ahead of her first School Committee meeting.
“I’ve been a lifelong resident of Franklin County and I’m looking forward to getting to work for our kids, our educators and our community,” Burke said.
Burke and Dastous both thanked the residents of Leyden, Northfield, Warwick and Bernardston for their support in the election.
“I’m looking forward to representing (the community),” Dastous said.
Warwick resident Swartz said he is looking forward to working with the School Committee, and maintaining educational opportunities so every child can excel.
“I’d like to thank everyone for voting for me, and everyone — in all towns — who are committed to rural education,” Swartz said. “Rural education is at the foundation of our country. One-room schoolhouses provided educated citizenry, and helped us overcome so many things and reach the heights we have.”
“I am grateful for the support by the voters and folks in leadership in local government,” said Young, who was re-elected to a two-year term on a write-in campaign. “At the end of my term, I’ll have served eight years.”
Looking ahead to his new term, Young said he hopes the School Committee will “engage in governance based on policies and stay away from interference/micromanagement.” Young also encouraged continuing shorter and more frequent meetings, saying “late into a long meeting I, for one, am not at my best.”
“I hope members get a wider understanding of the budget and our financial position,” he added. “I think I am skilled in seeing the big picture, which is hard to make out sometimes, for all the well-intended transparency.”
Genovese, also of Warwick, did not respond to requests for comment by press time on Wednesday.
Giarusso, who had recently been appointed to the School Committee after Leyden representative Sharon Fontaine stepped down for personal reasons, said she is interested in continuing to assess per-pupil costs and reviewing educational assessments. She said she wants to avoid “pitting towns against each other” and to seek more funding from state and federal resources.
“I’d like to thank everyone in the four towns for voting for me for the School Committee,” Giarusso said. “I plan on listening to all sides of the issues, and hope we can keep education as a priority for our children’s future. I’m willing to work for education, as well as keep the budget in mind and consider what the towns can afford.”
Likewise, Bell, of Bernardston, thanked voters and said he’s ready to get back to work with the new members. Bell said he feels the committee is in a good position to continue moving forward, and noted there is immediate work to do to continue addressing education amid the lasting COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have business to do,” he said simply. “I’m looking forward to it.”
The first meeting with the new members is Thursday at 7 p.m., and can be viewed live online via Bernardston-Northfield Community Television’s Facebook page.
The new, full roster of the Pioneer School Committee is: Bernardston members Jeanne Milton, Mike Townsley and Jim Bill; Northfield members Kristen Gonzalez, Julie Burke and Reina Dastous; Warwick members David Young, Alan Genovese and Nathan Swartz; and Leyden members Karen O’Neil and Michele Giarusso. No one has been named to the vacant seat left by outgoing Leyden member Abigail Pratt at this time, though this can be filled through appointment by the town moderator.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.