Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School committee candidates emphasize support for teachers, urge hands‑on programs to lift graduation rates
Summary
At Wareham's Candidates Night, school committee candidates agreed the district's staff are its strength and that funding cuts and declining enrollment are top challenges. They debated use of vocational programs, night‑school diplomas and an ongoing paraprofessional contract impasse.
School committee candidates at Wareham's Candidates Night on May 2026 framed the town's schools as defined by staff dedication while warning that reduced state funding and falling enrollment threaten programs and graduation rates.
Candidates opened by praising the district's workforce and community. "What makes this district good are the people," said Joyce Bakyaki, a nine‑year incumbent, echoing several others who called teachers and administrators the district's chief asset. Incumbent Kevin Bjali said the district's "student–teacher relationship is the key," and credited long‑term staff for community stability.
The forum turned to data: a moderator noted Wareham's 2025 graduation rate of 79.4% versus a statewide 89.3%. Candidates offered different remedies. Jordan Johnson, 18 and campaigning on student engagement, urged individualized instruction and curricular flexibility to keep students invested: "If the student doesn't want to learn...we need to increase individualization." Nancy Tyan Cedome and other candidates recommended restoring vocational and hands‑on programs so students enter the workforce with skills; Joyce and Kevin highlighted existing alternatives including a night‑school diploma program and a new EMT certification course at the high school.
Labor and budget pressure framed several answers. Candidates described an ongoing paraprofessional bargaining impasse now in arbitration. Kevin Bjali and Joyce Bakyaki said the dispute centers on contract length—paraprofessionals have sought a two‑year agreement while some on the committee prefer a three‑year term to match other municipal units. "They will get paid retroactively," Kevin said, but added negotiations and arbitration have delayed a settlement. Joyce said she voted against a prior two‑year proposal solely because it differed from the town's usual three‑year contracts.
On leadership transitions, candidates said they have met incoming superintendent Dr. Hartley Matson and pledged support for her listening tour and introductions to staff. Several stressed improved communication with families as a priority to counter perceptions that lead families to leave the district.
The forum closed with two‑minute appeals to voters. No formal votes or motions were taken during the event; candidates reminded the audience that election day is May 5. The discussion underscored near‑term decisions for the committee: resolving paraprofessional contracts, continuing career‑pathway programs and strengthening outreach as the new superintendent takes office.
