Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
LONGMEADOW — Voters will take to the polls on Tuesday, June 3, to elect their town officials. There are three School Committee positions on the ballot, one with a two-year term and two with three-year terms. With two current members of the School Committee, Julie Morgan and Estelle Jordan, not seeking reelection, the only incumbent in the race is Zachary Verriden. Like Verriden, Emily Hansen and Joel S. Illoouz are vying for a three-year term. There are two candidates for a two-year term on the committee: H. Kate Bean and Gregory C. Macdonald.
Reminder Publishing reached out to the candidates to talk about why they are running and what they hope to accomplish on the School Committee. Verriden and Illouz did not respond in time for publication.
Hansen said she chose to run for School Committee because “good education is one of the best investments we can make in our children.” She relocated to Longmeadow with her family in 2023 and chose the town after looking for “a community that valued education.”
“Growing up in both blue and red states, I know the value of education, and the importance of an educated populace,” Hansen said. “I also believe civic engagement is important and our community is strengthened by the commitments we make to nurture it — this is why I am excited to run for School Committee.”
A Longmeadow resident for 40 years, Bean said, “I want to continue my dedication to the town that has provided so much to our family.” She called Longmeadow Public Schools “the pride of Massachusetts” and said the town has many young families. She said, “I want to be a part of making those families realize what we were able to benefit from,” including, “inclusivity, fairness, respect and excellence.” Further, she said, “I believe a well-rounded education fosters a well-rounded individual. Exposure to the arts, athletics and music are not extras, they are critical.”
A 2019 graduate of Longmeadow High School, Macdonald said, “I’ve experienced firsthand the power of our educational system.” He described candidacy as providing “a bridge.”
“I’m running for School Committee to bring a voice that’s currently missing: the perspective of a recent student who understands what it’s like to be on the other side of the policies we create,” Macdonald said. While praising the committee members as “dedicated and knowledgeable,” “with expertise in education, finance and governance,” he said, “I’ve lived the outcomes of our decisions. I know how it feels to navigate the classroom, the college process, and the broader challenges today’s students face. That perspective matters.”
Bean believes her professional background in finance will be of use to the School Committee. “The School Committee budget is the largest of the town budgets. My previous experience in financial services and running a small business in Longmeadow provides a background to be able to review budgets and make positive decisions,” she said. “Critical thinking, challenging the status quo and attention to detail are skills I have honed that will be imperative to spend our tax dollars wisely.”
Bean also said she has “a commitment to civic duty,” volunteering for the Longmeadow Zoning Board, co-chairing the Young Patrons at the Springfield Museum and being president of the board for Heritage Academy.
As a project manager, Hansen said she works to keep “everyone is on the same page about how we need to grow, how we plan to measure growth to see if we are on track to meet our goals, and to decide what we need to do if we are falling short.” The role has given her experience in budgets, motivating her team and resolving problems as they occur. Previously, she taught at the university where she earned her master of arts in English. Hansen also noted she was formally recognized for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at her company.
“I plan to put my background in education and my extensive experience as a project and program manager to good use as your representative,” Hansen said. “I’m creative and scrappy, and love solving problems. I’m also diligent and persistent. I see a challenge through to the end, even when it’s hard.”
Acknowledging that he has not served on a municipal body before, Macdonald said his “firsthand knowledge” of being a student in Longmeadow gives him a lens that is needed. “I’ve lived the policies and decisions our committees have made. I’ve seen what works, and where there’s room to grow — from the inside. That perspective is something we currently don’t have on the committee.”
Macdonald also said he has spent time listening to various stakeholders, including students, families, educators and taxpayers. “I’m a quick learner, a clear communicator and someone who deeply respects the collaborative process. I believe those traits, combined with my lived experience, would allow me to contribute meaningfully and responsibly from day one. I’m not here to claim I know everything — I’m here to listen, learn and bring a valuable voice to the table that hasn’t been represented yet.”
Looking to the future, Hansen said, “With our town’s growth comes some growing pains. As we’ve seen with the middle school project, we have a lot of needs and wants from our community to consider,” Hansen said. She acknowledged the impact of increased traffic and noise pollution on neighbors of the Williams Street site. While she said she supports the need for a new middle school, “I also don’t want to lose sight of the refurbishments our other schools need, as well.” She cited the mold at Wolf Swamp Road Elementary School, which her child attends.
“We still experience racism, antisemitism, and bigotry in our schools, and it’s probably time to re-examine our policies, staff and teacher training, and curriculum, as there is more we can do to combat this,” Hansen said. She also expressed a desire to explore alternative options for healthy diets in schools. Lastly, she wanted to pursue grant opportunities. “I want to ensure we are taking advantage of every program we qualify for” and said, “[I] am eager to put my fundraising skills to use for our schools.”
Like Hansen, both Bean and Macdonald spoke about the physical condition of the town’s schools. Bean said infrastructure in the schools must be addressed, and to do so, the School Department must partner with the Select Board and the DPW. “Teamwork is one of my strengths and I believe I will add value,” she said.
Bean also said, “I believe Longmeadow, as well as every other community, is going to face increasingly tighter fiscal constraints. Creativity and attention to detail are going to be imperative to be able to continue to offer the superior education Longmeadow is known for.” She said keeping the middle school project on time and in budget is “vital.”
A “key issue” for Macdonald is student mental health and wellness. “Today’s students are facing pressures that go beyond academics — social media, performance stress and post-pandemic adjustment are all very real.” He said he would like to add “wellness, leadership and life skills” to Longmeadow’s Vision of the Graduate, which includes critical thinking, collaboration and accountability. He also supports “personalized learning pathways that meet students where they are — whether they’re headed to college, a trade or another path.”
There are also contested seats on the Select Board. Mark Gold and Dan Zwirko are seeking reelection, while Maury Mitchell Garrett and Shelly Marie Maynard-Dewolf are each hoping to secure a first term on the board. Sal Anzalotti had run for the seat but was eliminated in the May 6 preliminary election. For more on the Select Board candidates, see Reminder Publishing’s coverage of the preliminary election at tinyurl.com/ykjp6jsa.
Two positions on the ballot feature candidates running unopposed. Planning Board Chair Cheryl A. Thibodeau is running for reelection to a five-year term, while Nandlal Reejhsinghani is running for a four-year term on the Housing Authority.
