Rochester School Committee

            There are two open seats for three-year terms on the Rochester School Committee being contested by four candidates: challengers Matthew Bache and Joshua Trombly and incumbents Jason Chisholm and Robin Rounseville. The Rochester Town Election will be held on Wednesday, May 22, at the Senior Center on Dexter Lane.

Matthew Bache

            My wife, Nicolette, and I have been residents of Rochester for 10 years. We are proud parents of three children, Gabriel, Isaiah, and Aria. I currently hold and operate a local company, Bache’s Plumbing and Heating. Nicolette is currently a teacher at East Fairhaven Elementary School. I am running for a seat on the Rochester School Committee because I firmly believe that parents, guardians, and taxpayers have the right to transparency and accountability when it comes to our children’s education and the use of our tax dollars. I plan on bringing business experience, financial knowledge, organizational skills, blue-collar values, common sense, and the voice of the parents to the school committee. In addition, the current school committee has made it clear it wishes not to hear a dissenting opinion from parents or students. They’ve done their best to isolate themselves from the public’s voice. I believe the current school committee has caused divisiveness and chaos with their stances on subjects such as the books and their use of taxpayers’ dollars. I firmly believe that a compromise could have been made that would’ve appeased all sides and stopped the division that has taken place in the Rochester community. If you’re looking for a candidate who will still uphold the highest moral code, yet understand people’s moral codes are different, I would be that candidate. I believe in being pro-active, not reactive, in all things, especially when it comes to your tax dollars. You will have full transparency with me. I humbly ask for your vote on May 22, 2024. I’m listening.

Joshua Trombly

            My name is Josh Trombly, and I am running for a seat on the Rochester Memorial School Committee. I live in Rochester with my wife Jessica and two children Jaxon and Lila. I am a fiscal conservative and a proud union member with over 23 years of experience in negotiating, compromising, and finding creative solutions to difficult issues. In the last year and a half, I have attended almost all RMS, ORR, and Joint school committee meetings in person. I have studied the process and have been able to identify opportunities for improvement. I have spoken with teachers, parents, and many community members and all seem to share one common issue. They feel they are not being heard. Some teachers feel unappreciated and misrepresented in the community. Some parents feel uninformed about policy, curriculum, and the most effective ways to get information, and many members of the community feel they have no voice whatsoever in how the future of Rochester is shaped through our schools. All of these concerns are fixable, and all can be fixed by an RMS school committee with the right members. Up until now, we have been told that some things are just the way they are, and the committee has a system in place that works.  I do not believe that the system works, and I believe it is time for the system to change. We need to prioritize academic excellence and put our teachers in a position to succeed by ensuring their voices are heard. We need to create a way for parents to access the information they require to remain informed, and we need to be able to hear from the community on agenda items before they are voted on instead of after. If I am fortunate enough to be considered for your vote, I will champion debate and diversity of thought. I will listen to and represent all citizens of Rochester and challenge any attempt to silence your voice or discourage your participation in the education of our children. I respectfully ask for your vote on May 22nd.

Robin Rounseville

            My name is Robin Rounseville, and I am running for re-election to the Rochester Memorial School Committee. My husband Scott was born and raised in Rochester, and we have lived here for 36 years. Next month, we will be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary. Our four children attended RMS; two went on to Old Colony, and two attended ORR. We currently have four grandchildren enrolled at RMS. Our grandchildren are a big part of our lives, and I love that I am able to watch them thrive at RMS. I have a long history of service to Rochester, including: Story Hour and summer activities at the public library; member and past president of the Friends of the Plumb Library; Girl Scouts troop leader for 6 years; PTO member/president; RMS School Council; and RMS School Committee member since 2000. During my time on school committee, I have served on multiple subcommittees, including as a local representative to ORR, contract negotiations, and S.M.E.C. I currently serve on the Tri-Town Education Foundation, Budget Subcommittee, and the ORR Joint School Committee. I have also been a part of several principal and superintendent searches, and I was on the school committee through the school expansion. There is a huge learning curve to school committee work. Experience does matter, but it doesn’t mean I have all the answers. However, there are some things I know for sure: Children need to feel safe at school, both physically and emotionally; Children need to be challenged and supported academically; Children need to be celebrated for their individuality. Families and constituents need to be heard, not just during open comments but also through emails and interactions in the community. School staff and administration also need to be valued and respected for their dedicated work. School staff need the appropriate resources to help our students succeed. RMS needs a strong budget to support our academic programs and initiatives, maintain our building, and provide the compensation that our hard-working staff deserves. I have worked hard with these beliefs in mind and hope to earn the chance to continue to serve our community.

ORR School Committee

            There is one open seat for a three-year term for a Rochester representative on the ORR School Committee being contested by two candidates: incumbent Matthew Monteiro and challenger Stacie Noble Shriver.

Matthew Monteiro

            Rochester is a wonderful place that deserves dedicated public servants with its best interests in mind. I’ve been very active – serving on the Historic District Commission since 2015, as our representative for Tree City USA since 2016, and on our Land Trust since 2018. This year I was appointed by the Select Board as a representative on the Steering Committee for Rochester’s Master Plan, using input from our citizens to shape a vision for Rochester’s future. I ran for ORR District School Committee in 2021 because nobody had stepped up and I wanted to ensure the work was not left undone. I was (and am) well aware of pandemic related challenges for our students. Mental health strain and loss of learning children experienced were and are priorities for the schools. The good news is programs are in place to address these issues, such as a leadership program to foster belonging and acceleration academies for learning. Our district is catching up to educational standards faster than the state, and we are always looking to do even more. I serve on the Budget, Superintendent Evaluation, and Equity subcommittees, and as our Massachusetts Association of School Committees delegate, voting on statewide policy and advocating for our schools at the State House. I understand the importance of communication and collaboration, and I am the only school committee member to have attended all four parent and community feedback sessions for our strategic 5 year plan. Your feedback was heard. I can think of no skill every student will need in their lives more than personal financial literacy, which is an understanding of how to make responsible fiscal decisions. Developing expertise in monetary matters will serve them as a lifelong skill, and I seek to continue to promote the development of financial literacy education. The three years experience I have means I deeply understand how I can make a positive difference for Rochester. I look forward to continuing in service to its citizens both in my volunteer roles including as your elected representative to the ORR district committee. I hope I can count on your vote on May 22.

Stacie Noble Shriver

            I am Stacie Noble Shriver. I’m running for the ORR School Committee to sit, collaborate and fairly represent Rochester’s concerned residents. I offer common sense concerning curriculum issues and in assisting the Superintendency. I stand for high educational standards, curriculum accountability and fiscal responsibility. Over the next four years, the stated strategy of the ORR District is to develop a Portrait of a Graduate (POG). We are one year into this 5-year timeline. Last year the district purchased this new curriculum from a Massachusetts company, recently reorganized in 2020 with Covid money, or ESSER. Sales incentives guaranteeing a subsidy were set to expire, when the school district purchased this material and it created urgency, I can imagine, for better or for worse. Now our public education has been held captive by a powerful and well-funded industry. The only reason this happened is because the current School Committee goes along to get along… in voting and paying for the program. This may seem like good teamwork, but Rochester’s children deserve not to be guinea pigs. While the current parental notification law provides some level of protection by allowing parents to opt their children out from lectures or lessons dealing “primarily” with human sexuality, we need closer observation. Many agree the “opt-out” law is useless because the transformative Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum infuses sexual concepts into English, Math and Science as well. I support an “opt-in” law where parents have to “opt in” their children to any event where human sexuality would be discussed. This requires transparency. As a physician, I am trained to prevent injury. I look for trends and intervene before damage occurs. Hoping we are doing the right thing is not enough. Most agree we should not be experimenting with our own kids to suit and monetize corporate scholastic global agendas. I stand for knowing and doing what our own individual children need to flourish. Our kids’ futures are at stake, and who will protect them if we don’t? I support restoring the decision-making authority over school policy and finance to parents, locally elected school committees and taxpayers.

Park Commission

            There is one open seat on the Rochester Park Commission being contested by two candidates, challenger Nathaniel Reece and incumbent Kenneth Ross.

Nathaniel Reece

            I am running to advocate for the improvement of the parks in our beautiful town of Rochester. My combination of community volunteerism, experience, and education make me a great candidate for the Park Commission. As a five-year resident, parent of three young children, and volunteer of two youth organizations, I have regularly used the parks. I am the leader of the Rochester Cub Scouts and a board member of the Old Rochester Youth Baseball League. In both roles, I encourage youth enjoyment of the outdoors and participate in efforts to maintain outdoor spaces in our town. These experiences have given me ideas on how to enhance the quality, functionality, and safety of our parks. My professional and educational experience affords me the technical aptitude to be a Park Commission board member. With a Bachelor’s in Engineering and a Master’s in Management, I have the soft skills to listen to the input of others and make logical decisions and the technical skills to make the improvements needed. My highest priority is Gifford Park, which is situated in the heart of the town and adjacent to a land trust. It has incredible potential and is an ideal place for residents to gather and strengthen community bonds. However, apart from the baseball fields, the playground and basketball court do not attract residents. The bathrooms in the garage are nonfunctional. The parking areas are not well defined and are undersized for baseball game attendance. Therefore, I would like to use resident feedback to redesign the park to create a space that people will use and be proud of for years to come. I am excited about improving our town’s parks and creating a better future for our community. Thank you for considering me for the position on Election Day.

Kenneth Ross

            My name is Ken Ross and I’m seeking re-election to the Rochester Park Commission. I was first elected in 2012 and I have tried to do a good job serving. The Park Commission has 3 elected members, and during nearly all the 12 years I have served, David Hughes and David Sylvia have also served on the commission. We have always worked well together, and I believe in working together to make our town parks a point of pride. My wife Sarah and I moved to Rochester in 2004. When I think about Rochester, the first-rate school system for our 2 children was most important. Other reasons we moved would include the overall quiet, healthy, safe, hardworking community that Rochester is. Twenty years after moving here, my family and I feel fortunate to live here. Serving on the Park Commission is my way of giving back to a great town. The Park Commission is responsible for overseeing park use and upkeep, including maintenance and improvements. To be clear, the Rochester Highway Department, led by Jeff Eldridge, is the reason the parks look so good. The Park Commission processes field use requests and responds to any questions or concerns regarding the parks from any individual, youth, or adult sports organizations. Some of the groups and individuals who have interacted with the Park Commission include baseball, basketball, softball, football, skateboarders, K-9 instructors, pickleball, soccer, lacrosse, picnickers, playground users, and walkers. We have always encouraged field use by as many different groups as possible, so that one sport does not dominate field use. Every town resident has access to our town parks. If re-elected, I will continue to show up for Park Commission meetings, address concerns, process requests for field use, and try to make sure the parks continue to look good. The Park Commission will continue to operate within our budget each year. The Park Commission is fortunate to receive donations each year, which are used for park improvements. I appreciate the votes I have received in the past, and I’m asking for your vote for re-election. Sincerely, Ken Ross

Trustees of Plumb Library

            There are two open seats for three-year terms on the Board of Trustees for the Plumb Library being contested by three candidates: incumbents Shauna Makuch and Kelley Medeiros and challenger Portia Silk (Sydney Lewis has withdrawn from consideration).

Shauna Makuch

            The Plumb Library has been a big part of my life for as long as I have lived in Rochester, which will be 17 years this July. My children have, quite literally, grown up in this little library that we lovingly call a second home. I would greatly value the responsibility to continue making sure that the best interests of the library, our staff and the community are a top priority. My goal is for a thriving library with programs and services for all. Your continued support and vote on May 22 would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Shauna Makuch

Kelley Medeiros

            My family, including two children at RMS, is dedicated to the evolution of our library, including supporting me for re-election. Two of the three-year term I served as chair of the board. I take pride in this challenging role, which is surprisingly not about picking books or helping with children’s programs as I naively thought before running. We, the board, have overcome obstacles and gaps that led to great accomplishments in bringing our library up to present-day expectations. We finished updates to the building that were safety related and a new space for our children. We had an amazing, tenured director retire, then embarked on a journey to find a vibrant new director who has been a wonderful partner and face of the library. We revamped our policies/procedures to align with the law and gained clarity on town vs board responsibilities. We began progress on a new, updated website thanks to a partnership with Old Colony RVTHS. During and post-Covid, we continued to drive engagement of our programming. I have been lucky to have a great board, but I do not consider us to be done and ask for your vote to continue this effort. As I look to the next three years, I want to draw your attention to the critical stage we are in. My background is in legal and includes a master’s in public policy, which I have leaned on heavily to drive progress on library issues. After this election, the board will be creating a new five-year strategic plan. Our town deserves a library not only up to par, but I foresee us being a standard for libraries of comparable size. Thinking of long-term sustainability challenges, such as declining funding issues from state grants and small staff, we have work to do. We can improve our engagement with residents and sustainability by having volunteer opportunities, which is something we are currently working to implement. There is so much more I could say, but I implore you to vote for me and visit our library! Thank you for your consideration, Kelley Medeiros.

Portia Silk

            I remember how the floors creaked in my library. I can almost smell the basement we met in for my Brownie troop. The carpet was a soft white Berber where we sat for story times. Santa was there every year. Funny that I also remember signing the book card at checkout and getting the red stamp for the due date. I think most of us have these sorts of library memories. Libraries are cornerstones of communities, and ours is no different. Who helps shape these memories? The Board of Trustees. I made the decision to run for the board out of a sense of service to Rochester. I’ve been a Rochester resident since 2011 and a practicing radiologist in Massachusetts since 2009. Our only child is graduating this year, having attended RMS through ORR. I’m deterring empty-nester syndrome! I know the value of a library in a small town, having grown up in a mountain community smaller than Rochester. I’m a life-long learner like so many of you. I think of the library board as the crew behind a good play. The ones that organize the lights, sounds, and costumes to ultimately produce something amazing for the audience to experience. The mechanics, so to say. So why vote for me? I don’t yet have experience as a trustee, but I’m a fast learner. I’m organized. I’ve been in private medical practice for nearly 15 years, which provides experience with earnings, hiring, workflow, contracts, and collaboration. I show up. I never give less than my all. I’m a fresh face with new ideas. The library needs community support more than ever. I hope you consider giving me your vote on election day. If you would like more information about me, please check out my Facebook page, “Portia Silk for Library Trustee.”

The EMT Association created in Marion in the late 1970s has disbanded after distributing over $440,000 in 44 years to support the town’s first responders.

            The decision was officially announced in a letter written by Cornelia R. Dougall stating that, “as of January 1, 2024, the Marion EMT Association has donated the last of its funds and has ceased to exist as a public 501(c)(3) charity, and donations can no longer be accepted.”

            The town’s takeover of these services via the Fire and Police departments and the Board of Health lessened the need for the association, which was already lacking in next-generation members.

            According to William “Dale” Jones, the original chairman, the association had essentially run its course.

            “The sad thing is now we’re at the point where it’s best to shut down our association and not accept any more donations but recommend those donations go to the Fire Department,” said Jones, who today in retirement is a crossing guard and a member of Marion’s Planning Board.

            The association was not a government entity but a fundraising group that distributed over $440,000 over a 44-year period of existence. Money was raised to fund equipment on town ambulances, fire engines and police cruisers. All of the prehospital care that resulted from the association’s efforts was carried out at no cost to Marion taxpayers.

            Jones recalled a 1975 mandate from the federal government’s department of transportation requiring certification for states’ and towns’ EMT’s.

            “It was such a quantum leap to see what we could do as EMT’s compared to paramedics. Paramedics in the field can do what RN’s can do in a hospital,” he said.

            With association funding, the town ran a program to teach non-police and non-fire to participate.

            “Originally, we were going to make all Police and Fire EMT’s, but a lot of people didn’t want to do it. We ended up with a bunch of so-called civilians who completed the course,” said Jones, alluding to six weeks of intensive training, academic work and hands-on experience. “At the end of the program, (Selectman) Joe Zora wanted to set up an organization.”

            Jones was appointed chairman. At the time, fellow Planning Board member Jon Henry was captain of the Fire Department but had too much on his plate to personally participate in the EMT program. Jones invited by Zora to review the situation. “He said, ‘set up a group and you’re going to be a department, just like the Fire and the Police (departments).’”

            Of 30 original trainees, the association realized approximately a dozen members who could make the time to serve. Some people, said Jones, just wanted first-aid training. Over 40 years, the group ran two ambulances and worked on call, adding people along the way. The association was in full force until a few years ago when Emergency Medical Services became part of the Marion Fire Department.

            Jones pointed to the association’s second director Jim Dougall for “good ideas” like raising money for equipment for the town. In 1980, three years after the town EMS had begun providing certified EMT’s and had taken responsibility for Marion’s ambulance service, Dougall formed a 501©(3) charity. His sister, Joan Wing, did the financial work. Together, they collaborated with the VFW to raise money for three ambulances for the town and associated equipment.

            After EMS became part of the Fire Department, the association continued as a fund-raising arm.

            “We never solicited, it was just people who donated to us and appreciated our services,” said Jones. “Joan had tremendous ability to invest money we were able to use for equipment. Sometimes it’s a little difficult to deal with the government. The private sector has more flexibility.”

            The disbandment of the EMT Association is the second time in the past few years that a group of long-standing public servants ceased operations.

            Seeing that the town had similarly taken control of decision-making, the Council on Aging’s Advisory Board dissolved but immediately reinvented itself outside the government context as a fund-raising arm known as the Cushing Community Center Working Group. The group has helped transform the former VFW property into a community center with an outdoor presence featuring a paved walking path, permanent benches and a lighted, covered pavilion.

            The spirit of volunteerism and community commitment is very much like the history of the EMT Association.

            According to Cornelia Dougall’s letter, mundane items such as bandaging supplies to state-of-the-art cardiac monitors and stretchers, pagers, two-way radios and a 2022 purchase of a UTV for the Fire Department to use in remote rescue missions were all made possible by EMT Association funds. Marion EMT’s and paramedics also benefited with training and continuing education. The EMT Association made its final donation to the COA for loanable medical equipment.

           Cornelia Dougall’s letter publicly thanks “the many Marion EMT’s and paramedics over the past four decades that selflessly dedicated their time and resources to this valuable charity. We also thank the VFW for their generous support over many more years to prehospital care in Marion. We are most humbly grateful to the people from far and wide who made generous financial donations to our association. Without the donations we would not have existed.”

By Mick Colageo