WORCESTER ScHOOL COMMITTEE

2023 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

This is the first municipal election for the newly constructed school committee districts in the City of Worcester.

In previous elections, all school committee seats were elected at-large. The school committee will now include both at-large and district representation.

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7.


CANDIDATE QUESTION & ANSWER

Candidates for Worcester School Committee discuss major topics driving voters to the polls in the 2023 election.

Responses to questions will be posted weekly. Please check back regularly.

Question 4:

Many of our schools are housed in inadequate or antiquated buildings with infrastructure inadequate to the needs of 21st century learners.

What steps would you take to begin to address this issue?

Read the responses submitted by candidates.

Question 3:

IF ELECTED, WHAT ACTIONS, SPECIFICALLY, WOULD YOU TAKE TO ADDRESS UNDERSTAFFING IN THE WPS? PLEASE PRIORITIZE THE STAFFING SHORTAGES YOU WOULD ADDRESS.

Read the responses submitted by candidates.

Question 2:

Worcester continues to struggle to meet the needs of English language learners and to recognize the value of proficiency in more than one language.

What steps do you think the Committee and District need to take to address this inequity?

Read the responses submitted by candidates.

QUESTION 1:

What do you think are the most significant strengths of the district? What are the most significant areas of concern?

Read the responses submitted by candidates for Worcester School Committee this year.

candidate biographies

Read detailed biographies submitted by candidates to learn more about their individual experience and qualifications.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATE QUESTIONS

  1. What do you think are the most significant strengths of the district? What are the most significant areas of concern?

  2. Worcester continues to struggle to meet the needs of English language learners and to recognize the value of proficiency in more than one language. What steps do you think the Committee and District need to take to address this inequity?

  3. If elected, what actions, specifically, would you take to address understaffing in the WPS? Please prioritize the staffing shortages you would address.

  4. Many of our schools are housed in inadequate or antiquated buildings with infrastructure inadequate to the needs of 21st century learners. What steps would you take to begin to address this issue?

Check back weekly for more candidate responses!


CANDIDATE FORUMS

Presented by the Worcester Education Equity Roundtable, with lead partners Worcester Interfaith, The Village, the Latino Education Institute, and the NAACP. 

 

CONTESTED DISTRICTS CANDIDATE FORUM

RECORDED LIVE | October 12, 2023

Candidates in contested districts for Worcester School Committee share their experiences and plans for our community’s schools leading up to the municipal election on Tuesday, November 7th.

Spanish interpretation of the event (audio only)

 

AT-LARGE CANDIDATE FORUM

RECORDED LIVE | September 20, 2023

At-Large candidates for Worcester School Committee discuss their plans to address important issues in our community leading up to the municipal election on November 7th.

This forum includes a presentation from the NAACP explaining the new school committee composition, which now includes both at-large and district representation.

Link to resource deck

 

DiSTRICT E CANDIDATE FORUM

RECORDED LIVE | August 23, 2023

District E candidates for Worcester School Committee discuss their plans to improve our schools, enhance student experiences, and address important issues in our community leading up to the preliminary election on September 5th.

This forum includes a presentation from the Worcester Regional Research Bureau explaining the new school committee composition, which now includes both at-large and district representation.

Link to resource deck


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

2023 CANDIDATES FOR WORCESTER SCHOOL COMMITTEE

AT-LARGE (pick two)

Laura B. Clancey*

Maureen F. Binienda

Susan M. Mailman*

Tracy O’Connell Novick*

DISTRICT A (unopposed)

Molly O. McCullough*

DISTRICT B (unopposed)

Vanessa Zuleyma Alvarez

DISTRICT C (pick one)

Dianna Biancheria

Jermoh V. Kamara*

DISTRICT D (unopposed)

Alejandro Guardiola, Jr

DISTRICT E (pick one)

Nelly Medina

Kathleen L. Roy

DISTRICT F (unopposed)

Jermaine Lamont Johnson*

*Currently serving on the school committee


LEARN ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

In this podcast episode, Jennifer Davis Carey, Executive Director of Worcester Education Collaborative, sits down with the creators of Don’t Touch My Podcast to talk about the new school committee structure going into this year's municipal elections.


INTERACTIVE PORTAL

created by the Worcester regional research bureau

Worcester residents can utilize this interactive portal created by The Research Bureau to determine their designated City Council and School Committee district, as well as where to vote.

The Research Bureau has published additional resources related to the election, including a 2023 Election Primer and a report on Governing for Excellence.

Visit The Research Bureau’s homepage for more resources.

 

STILL DON’T KNOW WHERE TO VOTE? FIND YOUR POLLING LOCATION.