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Youth-led Malden forum spotlights school committee race, voter dates announced
Summary
Four candidates for Malden School Committee introduced themselves at a youth-led forum, answering questions on school safety, transitions to adulthood, phones and AI policy, and community service; moderators reminded the audience that early voting begins Oct. 20 and Election Day polls open Nov. 4 at 7 a.m.
A youth-led candidate forum in Malden brought four school committee candidates before a largely student audience to outline priorities and answer questions on school safety, postsecondary pathways, technology in classrooms and community involvement.
Moderators Kian Morse and Captain of Verjali opened the event and invited candidates to introduce themselves. Candidates included Kimberly Gillette (candidate, Ward 1); Dawn Macklin (incumbent, Malden School Committee, Ward 4); Keith Bernard (incumbent, Malden School Committee, Ward 7); and Mike Grummy (incumbent, Malden School Committee, Ward 1). The forum featured five asked questions with two-minute answers, audience questions and closing statements.
The forum emphasized voter information for the upcoming election: moderators announced that early voting opens Oct. 20 and that polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Nov. 4. Candidates repeatedly tied school policy and budget questions to the upcoming vote, and several encouraged civic participation.
The night combined candidate introductions with substantive exchanges. Topics ranged from concrete budget pressures to specific student supports such as special-education plans and language-access tools. Multiple candidates described prior volunteer work in Malden schools and city programs and framed school committee service around both policy-setting and community advocacy.
The forum ran roughly 45 minutes and was organized as a moderated Q&A with time for audience engagement. There were no formal actions, motions or votes during the event; candidates spoke about priorities and past work and urged voters in their wards to participate in the November election.
Moderators closed the program by again reminding attendees of the voter timeline and encouraging eligible students to register and vote.
