OUTLOOK
ON EDUCATION
Involvement Is The Key
Throughout the history of African
Americans in the United States, hope for a better life has always had as its
cornerstone the belief that the key that unlocked the dream was found in a good
education. From slavery until just
recently, all parents, not only
stressed the value of a good education, but also held their children
accountable for going further in school than they themselves were able to
go. All
of our Black heroes, to a person, fought for equality of education.
And, yet, here we are 50 years after Brown vs. Board of Education, and, not
only are most of our schools more segregated than ever, but the quality of the education that
minority children receive is, for many, labeled by the state and federal
government as “failing” or “fails to meet adequate yearly progress.”
And we remain silent. We do not protest. We do not hold anyone accountable—not the
school system, not our children, and, certainly, not ourselves! How do we expect to change our children’s
lives for the better and thus change our society? When will we begin to show
that we care?
Listed
below are the names and telephone numbers of the members of the school
committee, along with a list of the committees on which they serve. Also listed below are the Superintendent’s
priorities for the 2003-2004 school year.
I urge you. No, I plead with you
to step-up and make a difference in a child’s life. Hold
someone accountable!
Springfield School Committee—2004
Mayor Charles V. Ryan, Chair
Thomas M. Ashe, Vice Chair
Nicholas A. Fyntrilakis
Marjorie J. Hurst
Jennifer D. Murphy
Antonette E. Pepe
Kenneth E. Shea
Springfield School Committee
Standing Committees—2004
Budget
& Finance
Kenneth E. Shea, Chair
Nicholas A. Fyntrilakis
Marjorie J. Hurst
Building
& Maintenance
Nicholas A. Fyntrilakis, Chair
Marjorie J. Hurst
Antonette E. Pepe
Curriculum
& Programs
Marjorie J. Hurst, Chair
Thomas M. Ashe
Antonette E. Pepe
Legislative
& Contracts
Kenneth E. Shea, Chair
Nicholas A. Fyntrilakis
Jennifer D. Murphy
School
Safety
Thomas M. Ashe, Chair
Jennifer D. Murphy
Kenneth E. Shea
Student,
Parent Concerns
Jennifer D. Murphy, Chair
Antonette E. Pepe
Kenneth E. Shea
Superintendent
Evaluation
Marjorie J. Hurst, Chair
Thomas M. Ashe
Jennifer D. Murphy
Technology
Nicholas A. Fyntrilakis, Chair
Jennifer D. Murphy
Antonette E. Pepe
Vocational
Education
Antonette E. Pepe, Chair
Thomas M. Ashe
Nicholas A. Fyntrilakis
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Joseph P. Burke
Superintendent’s Priorities
2003-2004
1. Excellence
at Every School
2. Improved
Attendance
3. Community
Engagement
4. Improved
Personnel Services to All
Schools
5. Redesign
Information Technology
and Data Delivery