Re-Elect Steven P. Cole for Newburyport School Committee
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My name is Steven P. Cole, and I am running for re-election to a 6th term on the Newburyport School Committee. Providing Hope - Rebuilding Confidence
Newburyport needs our schools to be a regional and statewide leader in educational achievement in order to support our students to succeed and thrive in an increasingly complex and interdependent global workforce. Forging a strong, innovative and forward thinking school district is imperative in competing with other regional employment centers for attracting value added businesses with highly-skil
led workers, who will bring their families and professions here. This is happening more and more. With a recently constructed model elementary school and a fully renovated upper elementary and middle school, we are at the best place that we have been for some time to provide what our students need and deserve. It does not stop with having new buildings and new and improved athletic fields and facilities. Public schools are challenged and sometimes doubted. Improving and rebuilding confidence where needed in our schools demands a School Committee that works collaboratively with school administration, is aligned in purpose, sets a positive tone and works with an expectation of accomplishment. Today, our schools are at a critical juncture. We must remain vigilant in the risk management of our educational assets. Our professional faculty and staff are being asked to do more in a pandemic influenced environment that can demand immediate change and continued flexibility. How we plan for and manage cost areas such as unfunded mandates, special education, transportation, the cost of athletics, sustaining technology and even the school lunch program are vital in our efforts to increase academic achievement for all students. All of these programs and services result in increasing costs that we do not have a revenue structure to sustain, rarely, beyond level services. Level services defines the concept to base costs on maintaining a level of educational services for the next fiscal year, based on the cost of the same level of these educational services being offered in the current fiscal year. Today, we are about to begin a strategic plan process to help guide our efforts for the next 3-5 years. It will involve the participation and voice of many stakeholders. A properly resourced strategic plan is vital to sustaining the quality of education in our district for the future. How we do that, together, is the challenge. As an alumnus of our school district, and officer of the Newburyport High School Alumni Association, I believe and have been told, that I bring valuable historical, institutional and relational knowledge to our School Committee. I am proud to tell you that I have had all four of my children graduate from Newburyport High School. I am proud of my children and know that they are my true ambassadors. Now retired, previously I worked for nearly 30 years with children and families, some of them homeless, and for more than 10 years I have been active with youth issues in this city. I have endeavored to provide what others have termed a “clear and non-confrontational advocacy.” I am student centered and student focused. I look to underscore efforts to remind our School Committee how vital it is to never forget that we are making decisions that affect the children and students of Newburyport. I kindly ask for your support, entrusted by your vote that would allow me to continue to serve our community on the School Committee. Respectfully,
Steven P. Cole
LSW Mass. # 314305
Principal, Cole Concepts
ELECTED OFFICE / MUNICIPAL EXPERIENCE
Re-Elected, School Committee
City of Newburyport, Nov. 2017
Re-Elected, School Committee City of Newburyport, Nov. 2013
Unanimously elected Chairman, Newburyport Charter Commission, Dec. 2009
Elected to the Newburyport Charter Commission, Nov. 2009
Re-Elected, School Committee, City of Newburyport Nov. 2009
Unanimously elected Vice Chair, School Committee, City of Newburyport, 2006 & 2007
Elected, School Committee, City of Newburyport Nov. 2005
Elected, School Committee (via a joint vote of the City Council and School Committee to replace the late Ms. Victoria Pearson per the City Charter) March 31, 2004
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Strategic Plan Action Team Leader (Group III) October, 2015 - 2016
Treasurer & Secretary Newburyport High School Alumni Association 2015 - present
Mobile Emcee, Newburyport’s First Winter Carnival January 29, 2005
Speaker & Breakout Session Leader, “Dealing with Difficult People”, National Conference of The Scleroderma Foundation – Logan Airport September 11, 2004
CO-Chairman & Organizer, Newburyport’s First Skateboard Tournament, during Yankee Homecoming, August 2004
Member, Advisory Board, The Salvation Army, Newburyport, MA 1998 – 2005
President Kiwanis Club of Newburyport, MA 2002 – 2007 (longest serving president in the club’s history)
Secretary, Kiwanis Club of Newburyport, MA 1999 – 2002; Division Recognition as Distinguished Secretary 2001 – 2002
Participated as a volunteer or organizer in numerous civic and charitable events. LEADERSHIP / AFFILIATIONS:
Appointed to Superintendent Search Committee 2005
Chair, Superintendent Search Committee 2006
Superintendent Finalist Candidate Site Visit Leader 2006, 2010 & 2013 (six site visits)
School Committee Vice Chair 2006 – 2007
Selected to the 2010 All-State School Committee by the Massachusetts Assoc. of School Committees
Member of Negotiations Subcommittee (five different contracts negotiated) beginning in 2004
Chair of Finance Subcommittee 2008 – 2009; 2011 – present
Joint-Education Committee (members of School Committee and City Council) Chair 2006-2007, Member 2010 – 2012
Member, Board of Directors, Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative, now C.R.E.S.T 2012 – 2016
Member, Board of Directors, Newburyport Adult & Community Education 2004 – present
Member of School Committee Policy Subcommittee 2004; 2016 - 2018
Member School Committee Communications Subcommittee 2004, Chair 2005
Member of the Newburyport High School Mission Statement Work Team for the 2013 New England Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Accreditation
01/13/2022
Today, I was honored to be sworn in to complete the unexpired term of former Committeeman now Mayor, Mr. Sean Reardon.
With Mr. Richard Jones, City Clerk officiating, I was pleased to be joined by School Committee Vice-Chair, Ms. Sarah Hall, and Committeeman Mr. Bruce Menin. I look forward to joining these members, and the entire committee in continuing our work on behalf of our school district and to all whom it serves.
It is always an honor to sign the elected officials' book and be included in the history of Newburyport's government.
Friends and supporters, I’m sorry to report that I missed the top 3 by 16 votes. As of this writing the count is official. My congrats go to Sarah Hall, Juliet Walker and Brian Callahan. And of course to mayor-elect Sean Reardon.
I appreciate all who came out and voted for me and for all the other candidates. I hope that the campaign efforts of all candidates for School Committee will bring attention to the importance of our schools, increase community engagement with our schools and widen the discussion about public education, in Newburyport.
11/02/2021
Please get out today and exercise your right to vote!
Your vote makes a difference. If you have not quite made up your mind, please take some time before you go to the polls to familiarize yourself with my record.
Search: Daily News of Newburyport Opinion Steven Cole School Committee, and you will find a battery of letters and articles regarding my School Committee service since 2004.
I’m not running on promises, or individual priorities. I’m running as an experienced member of a publicly elected body, the Newburyport School Committee.
Like learning skills in the classroom, as a teacher does, School Committee work is an apprenticeship. I have learned that a School Committee that works collaboratively with school administration, is aligned in purpose, sets a positive tone, and works with an expectation of accomplishment, works best.
I respectfully ask for your vote so that I may continue my service on the School Committee, and I am thankful for your support of the Newburyport Schools.
10/31/2021
Can you hold a sign for me on Tuesday?
In between giving out candy to the visiting ghouls and goblins, along with an occasional parent, I thought that I should reach out to anyone who would like to hold a sign for me. Please send me a message, and please let me know the time that works best for you. I only ask that you "hold" for an hour. If you are willing to do a longer shift, we can arrange that. Thanks in advance for your help, support and vote!
While I have known Mr. Shawn Flaherty for a long time, what most impresses me is his experience as an educator, and his commitment to “teaching the whole child.” Mr. Flaherty and I have collaborated in different roles and shared discourse from opposite sides of the table. Now retired, Mr. Flaherty has returned as a member of our city’s Disabilities Commission. The children and students whom he taught, and the people who he continues to serve all have looked to Mr. Flaherty for knowledge and a brighter future. Thank you Shawn for your longstanding dedication and commitment to our “whole community”, and humbling me with your letter of support.
Mr. Stephen Malenfant has always been there to help children and students since he was in high school. I can attest to that having first known him when he worked for the Newburyport Parks while an NHS upperclassman, in the early 70's. I was always the pitcher for Perkins Park against the talent laden Cashman Park team that he coached. Steve has gone on to help many NHS students become meticulous writers and skilled communicators. Additionally, through his coaching, most notably baseball and golf, he has taught discipline, respect, teamwork and sportsmanship all under the Clipper Ship on Mount Rural. Steve, thank you for your letter of support.
I am humbled by the words of Mr. John Green. John, not only achieved accomplishments in the business world, he brought a knowledge of history through his teaching degree to work with students who needed him most, at the Nock Middle School’s Discovery program. Later, he took an opportunity to help even more students, becoming a history teacher at Bishop Fenwick, and the boys’ varsity soccer head coach. John returned to the Nock where he regularly and dependably volunteered in the classroom where his certification in history truly enhanced student learning. John, your thoughtful support is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Steven P. Cole for Newburyport School Committee
As a School Committee member, I have developed trust and respect through being thorough and professional. My long and deep commitment to our school district, and to all who are served by it, characterizes my public service. Through my efforts, I have shown that I believe in, and support the vital op...
10/25/2021
Proud to have served with Ms. Cheryl Sweeney on the School Committee. After 37 years as a classroom teacher and educator in the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District, and her 8 years of School Committee service, the words of this 2017 Massachusetts Association of School Committees' Lifetime Achievement Awardee, are very important to me. Thank you Cheryl!
Thank you Mr. Halloran for your letter of support and for all of the excellence, enthusiasm and concern that you demonstrated in and outside of the classroom during your longstanding commitment and career at the Newburyport schools. Thousands of Newburyport children and students have benefitted from your tutelage and the life lessons that you provided through experiential learning. Thanks again!
Thank you Dr. Orlando for all that you have done for our schools, from helping to educate the public about Ch. 70, participating on ad hoc committees to include finding ways to create local funding options for our schools, advocating for more science lab instruction at the high school, attending and providing information via your blog about School Committee meetings, and so much more. It has helped to raise all boats . . . Thanks again!
Thanks to Mr. Mike Miozza, former Fall River City Councilor and former Chairman of Fall River's Charter Commission. I had to pleasure to assist the commission in their efforts over a couple years. I was humbled by their trust, and more so from this letter from Mike, thank you Mike!
01/13/2022
10/29/2021
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