Incoming Holyoke school committee member stresses outreach, trust building and website accessibility
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Summary
Patty Lubold told Holyoke Media she found the district website inaccessible in an accessibility test and plans door‑to‑door outreach and presence in neighborhood hubs to rebuild trust and improve communications.
Patty Lubold said outreach and clearer, accessible communication are priorities as she prepares to join the Holyoke School Committee.
Lubold described testing the district website at an accessibility conference and finding broken links and navigation problems that, she said, failed to meet web content accessibility guidelines. “The website is not doing it,” she told the interviewer, saying that broken or poorly labeled links can prevent constituents from finding or providing feedback on policies and procedures.
She cited practical barriers to engagement such as a community room in Bowdoin Village that closes at 4 p.m., limiting families’ ability to attend after work, and said she will maintain a physical presence in neighborhood spaces and continue door‑to‑door outreach started during the campaign.
Lubold said the district should repeat messages in multiple venues and formats to reach people where they are, and encouraged using school and community channels to highlight positive stories and attendance efforts alongside policy work.
The interview did not include a reply from district communications staff; Lubold’s comments are presented as her statements about communication gaps and outreach plans.