GREENFIELD — Voters will decide a four-way contest for three seats on the School Committee in the upcoming city election, as two incumbents are not seeking reelection.

The four candidates are incumbent School Committee Chairwoman Amy Proietti, and newcomers Ann Childs, Marina Leonovich, and Stacey Sexton. School Committee members Jean Wall and Susan Eckstrom are not running for reelection. The committee seats are four-year terms. 

The election is Tuesday, Nov. 7, in the Greenfield High School gymnasium. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ann Childs

When her child was a student at Federal Street Elementary School, Childs learned the school didn’t have a full-time librarian. She stepped in to volunteer in the role until the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I see this as an extension of my volunteerism,” she said of running for School Committee. 

Childs, 38, plans to use the platform to advocate at the state level for school funding.

“The state is letting us down,” she said. “Regardless of whether I’m on the committee or not, I hope to agitate Boston on doing what’s right.”

She plans to work with the schools on improving communication with the community, especially over the next few years, as the district looks at the possibility of redrawing the map and moving eighth grade into the middle school and fifth grade into the elementary school.

Childs, who works professionally as a literary critic, said she and Stacey Sexton are running together, in part because they feel they can work well together.

“It’s not just that our views and stances and values are compatible; it’s more than that,” Childs said. “I know that I can work with [Sexton] really well. … I’m generally good at getting along with people and also good at keeping things focused and moving along when necessary. I think by approaching everyone with compassion .. and coming from the direction of they want to help, then you can help smooth the culture.”

Childs said school officials need to have a more “long-sighted view” for spending. In particular, she expressed disappointment in the cut to the middle school Spanish teacher position.

“We need to be thinking not just how can we trim a quarter now, but what is going to save us a dollar later,” she said. “I think for the budgeting process — it’s hard, we have a budget where every year we try to strip it down more and more, but we need to think what these cuts will do for the long-term health of the district.”

Marina Leonovich

Leonovich, who previously homeschooled her four children up to a certain age before sending them to a small, Christian school, said she wants to find a place for someone like herself, who chose an alternate path for educating her children.

“Basically, I would love to find a way for the committee to find a way to work with students, educators and parents, so we’re coming up with ways to include all parties that care for kids in our community,” she said. “I want to make sure everyone who wants to be included is included.”

I want to be involved,” she said.

She noted her students don’t attend Greenfield schools for any negative reasons, but rather so she could be closer to them during the school day while she works in Springfield.

“I’m a taxpayer here,” Leonovich, 38, said. “I went to high school here and middle school here in Greenfield … I think every taxpayer should be involved to some degree in their lives in the governing of their town.”

Leonovich said she wanted to volunteer for the position but if it doesn’t work out, “it’s not my place to be here … some people call it fate, I call it God.”

“I think we still have a capable committee either way,” she said.

Amy Proietti

“I feel like there is so much more I can contribute,” said Proietti, who is seeking a second term. “I can see the amount of progress that we’ve made on our goals; I want to continue being a part of that. I enjoy the work – even though it stresses me out, I still enjoy it.” 

Proietti, 51, has two children in the school system and a 30-year background in education, particularly in residential life/housing and financial aid. Currently, she works as a financial coordinator at Greenfield Community College. As the only incumbent candidate, she said her experience makes her most qualified for the role.

In the nearly four years she has served, Proietti said she’s proud of the progress the School Committee has made in its ability to make the budget more accessible to the general public.

“One thing … I’m really proud of is the universal school meals, the free breakfast and lunch,” she said. “We worked super hard, the Greenfield School Committee, specifically, to advocate at the state level for that to continue after the pandemic.”

She said the committee’s primary job is to work on getting the funding the school district needs. Forging relationships with legislators, she said, is a “really important” part of what the committee does.

The superintendent transition will be a key responsibility of the School Committee, she said, referencing Superintendent Christine DeBarge’s plans to retire at the end of the academic year. Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning Karin Patenaude is expected to step into the role upon her departure.

“I really want us to maintain the progress that we’re making,” she said. “We hope we can make it work with Karin Patenaude.”

She said the budget concerns will be a key priority of the committee, noting there will be some significant capital requests coming up.

“I’m very interested in us talking about a 10-year plan for a new elementary school to replace all three of the ones we currently have online,” she said.

Stacey Sexton

Stacey Sexton, 33, said they have a background in education policy and is in tune with what is occuring at the state level. 

“I have great relationships with some existing councilors and some soon-to-be councilors. I feel like one of my strengths is being able to establish dialogue and craft working relationships across differences,” Sexton said. 

If elected, Sexton – who has worked in education research and evaluation for nearly a decade – would like to see more collaboration between the school and the city and hopes to see the School Committee tap into new local resources and strengthen existing partnerships with various nonprofits and political entities.

“That requires a lot more trust being built,” Sexton said. “I feel like the trust between the schools and city and the parents … is tenuous at best. Those relationships in general need to be strengthened so we can use what we have.”

Additionally, Sexton said, the School Committee needs to better advocate for itself at the state level.

Before all that can happen, they noted, the dynamic of the School Committee as a whole needs to change.

“Part of what I do professionally is coach and work with people who are trying to accomplish shared goals,” Sexton said. “Before we can hope to act as a body of leadership or a collaborative body with other entities here in Greenfield or other entities in Franklin County – or other entities in the state in general – we need to be able to work together and come together around our shared priorities and be able to amicably work through … differences.”

Other priorities Sexton outlined include ensuring the schools are meeting the needs of all students, particularly in areas of mental health and social/emotional development, and promoting transparency between the School Committee and the public. 

Sexton does not have children in the school district but said this can actually work as a benefit.

“I have time and energy to dedicate to some of this work, to go out and have the meetings that need to be had, plan the events,” Sexton said. “I also don’t believe you need to have kids to care about education for your community. What happens in your schools happens to the whole town.”