I attended last night’s School Committee Meeting to voice my support of the four Listening Sessions which were cancelled by threat of injunction.  I wanted the School Committee and the Mayor and the Superintendant of Schools to hear my voice on this issue.  During the course of the meeting it became apparent that the importance of these sessions has been lost on some members of the School Committee.

Mr. Bevilaqua expressed the notion that the Public Comment portion of the meeting was where people could address the School Committee and motioned to me that I understood and took advantage of this opportunity and others could too.  Unfortunately many people won’t give public comment because to stand at that podium and to face the School Committee and the audience watching their TVs at home is intimidating.  Further, once you make your public comment, the members of the School Committee can decide if they will respond to you and on what portion of your comments they will address.  Once this is done you take your seat.  There is no opportunity for follow-up discourse.  During the meeting there is no further opportunity for you to be recognized to speak or ask further questions.  Your next chance for comment comes at the next meeting.

Where then do I take my comments?  I have tried contacting the members of the School Committee individually with mixed successes.

The newspaper is an option – but an imperfect one.  Your comments there need to fit into special categories.  Is your letter to the editor edgy enough or topical enough to qualify for the limited space available?  Was your conversation with the reporter substantive enough to warrant an article?  Did you make your phrasing catchy enough for a Sound Off?

Mrs. Fitzgerald noted during the meeting that sometimes you need to do what you feel is right.  During my brief campaign for School Committee I spoke with many citizens of Haverhill.  I spoke with people who were passionate and enthusiastic about our City.  I spoke with people who were frustrated with our city.  I spoke with people who were completely disenfranchised by the political process happening not just in Haverhill but nationally.  I heard their voices.

I am compelled by what I feel is right to speak to the people of Haverhill to make my voice heard by opening this Blog.  I invite you to join your voice to mine so that we may have constructive discussions on all manner of Haverhill issues and to harness our energies to build up our City.