NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A convention of the School Committee and City Council elected two new members of the School Committee on Monday. 

 

Damon Grimes was elected to complete a term expiring Dec. 31, 2029, and Paul Moriarty to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2027.

 

Grimes is a facilities manager at Williams College, parent of a Brayton Elementary School pupil and vice chair of the Northern Berkshire Educational Sustainability Study steering committee. Moriarty is a member of the School Building Committee and a senior clerk with the Northern Berkshire Registry of Deeds. 

 

The new members will fill the unexpired terms of Emily Daunis and Cody Chamberlain, respectively, who both resigned because they have moved out of the city. 

 

In additions to Grimes and Moriarty, retired teachers Mary Ann Caproni and Jackie DeGiorgis also applied for the seats.

 

Each candidate had at timed 3 minutes to present their statements to the convention members, and up to 10 minutes each for questions from the convention members. 

 

Questions from councilors and committee members included budgets, dealing with conflict and unhappy parents, innovation and management experiences, and challenges facing the district.

 

Grimes said he manages a group of 21 diverse individuals, different backgrounds as an example of his leadership and that his volunteering within the district and on the study committee has given him some insight into challenges such as declining enrollment and improving students scores. 

 

"At the same time, I've also seen the strengths that exist in our classrooms: dedicated teachers who are committed to our students for meeting the needs of each individual," he said, adding, "I'd like to consider my greatest strength to be problem solving and a willingness to learn. I like to find what's — kind of going back to that conflict question — where we can make make things work."

 

Moriarty, a North Adams State College graduate, said his wife, Anne, had a been a teacher's aide for 17 years and they have been involved in the community in various ways, including serving on the School Building Committee and advocating for the new Greylock School.

 

"I've gotten to know teachers. I've gotten to know administration. I've come to respect people and and gotten to know the schools a little bit better," he said. "The other thing I just want to add is anyone who knows me knows I have a soft spot in my heart for children with special needs, and I think we need to do anything we can to support them further and to support the teachers and the teacher aides who work with them, because we need more one-on-one support, and we can't forget those kids that won't fall forward either."

 

He said his biggest strength was dealing with people, which he does on a daily basis at the Registry of Deeds in Adams. 

 

"I know I'm not going to know everything, and just as I do when I attend a City Council meeting, I sit and learn," Moriarty said. "I intend to do some learning. I will ask questions, and I'll contribute the best I can."

 

Caproni and DeGiorgis both spoke of their experiences as teachers in the North Adams and Hoosac Valley school systems and their ability to work with parents and students. 

 

Caproni said she would champion programs that advanced students and would support further development of a theater and music program at Drury.

 

"I believe in the triumvirate learning for children that it involves the student in the center with teacher, parent, and the administration," she said. "I'm always willing to learn new things and try new things."

 

DeGiorgis pointed to her creativity and innovative lessons in science and that "as someone who has received so many gifts from the North Adams Public Schools, I feel the best way to say thank you is to serve the district on the School Committee, thereby giving back just a little to the district that gave me so very much."

 

This is the third time a vacant seat on the committee has been filled by convention this year. In January, Alexandra DiAddezio was elected after a single nomination. There had been some grumbling that the other candidates had been dismissed without further consideration, including DeGiorgis, whose nomination had been belayed for an immediate vote on DiAddezio.

 

This time, committee and council members were allowed to nominate all or none of the candidates and votes were taken separately for each term. 

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey noted that Caproni was a second cousin as her grandmother and Caproni's father were siblings. She had an opinion from the Ethics Commission, which cleared her to vote since they were not direct relatives. However, she said she would err on the side of caution and did not participate in discussion or voting. 

 

Councilor Lisa Blackmer motioned for Daunais' seat to be filled first as it was for the longer term; this passed. She nominated Grimes; Council President Ashley Shade nominated DeGeorgis; Councilor Peter Breen nominated Caproni and School Committee member Tara Jacobs nominated Moriarty. 

 

Voting was done by secret ballot at Brayton, with members attending virtually texting their choice to the mayor. City Clerk Tina Leonesio tallied the votes. 

 

Grimes won the first round and the convention moved onto Chamberlain's shorter term, with the other three candidates all renominated (Moriarty was nominated by committee member David Sookey). It resulted in a tie between Moriarty and DeGiorgis. The convention determined to eliminate Caproni and move to a second vote between the top two, which Moriarty won 7-5.

 

Lenoesio swore both new committee members in and they will take their seats at Tuesday's School Committee meeting.