SOUTH HADLEY — The Selectboard and School Committee hosted a joint meeting on Sept. 2 to interview candidates for a vacant School Committee position.
Tracie Kennedy, Jess Nardizzi and Jim Bosman applied to fill the vacancy of Daniel Vieu who announced his resignation on July 8 due to him moving out of South Hadley.
During the joint meeting, the Selectboard and School Committee voted to appoint Kennedy to the School Committee.
Kennedy ran for one of the two vacant School Committee seats in July before newest member Charles Miles was given the position.
Kennedy said she grew up in South Hadley and after moving away, she decided to move back so that her kids could attend South Hadley Public Schools.
“This [School] Committee really holds a special place in my heart. Not just because my whole career has been early childhood and education and really dedicated to kids, but I have watched this committee over the past few years go [through] some significant turnover,” she stated.
Since March 2021, Kennedy has been the owner and executive director of the Tree of Life Early Learning Center in South Hadley, a center that aims to provide a nurturing and inclusive environment where children aged 0-5 years old are empowered to explore, learn and grow.
She said that she thinks since her whole career has been dedicated to early childhood and education, she can help the School Committee continue to provide students and educators with the resources they need.
Kennedy also explained she wanted to serve on the School Committee because of significant turnover that took place in the South Hadley schools that affected her children when it came to staffing over the summer.
She mentioned that “beloved” teachers decided to go to other districts.
“My children were heartbroken, but I was heartbroken too because I had built some really good relationships and I really want to be part of the solution for not just retaining the educators that we have, but attracting new educators to the district and support staff to the district,” Kennedy stated.
Kennedy has also been vocal at past budget meetings to voice her concerns about the impact budget constraints are having on the educators and students.
South Hadley Town Administrator Lisa Wong and members of the budget task force have already expressed budget concerns and say that the current financial picture is “deeply grim.”
When asked how she could help with the budget situation, Kennedy said she would have to take a closer look at the line items where cuts could be made or where resources can be reallocated, but her first thought would not be reducing staff.
Kennedy will have the position until April but said she intends to run for reelection.
The School Committee currently has no more vacancies with the appointment of Kennedy.
