Nardella is best for North Andover
To the editor:
There are two open positions for selectman in the upcoming town election. Rick Nardella is running for one of those positions, and I'm writing to support his candidacy. I've known him for over 30 years. In that time, he's proven to be a hard working individual who has a vision of success, and who can work in a team environment to achieve that success. Rick has demonstrated those attributes in his many years as a member and chairman of the Planning Board.
Some selectman candidates talk about the need to attract business to town to create new sources of revenue. He is the candidate who can show he's already done it! Projects such as the Eaglewood Plaza, the Crossroads Shopping Center and the new CVS were all approved during his 18-year tenure on the Planning Board. Last year's zoning change to create development districts along the Route 114 corridor, coupled with an article in this year's warrant to provide similar business opportunities along Route 125 by the Lucent property are examples of forward thinking aimed at attracting not just business, but the right business for North Andover.
His three girls were all products of the North Andover school system, so he is well aware of the issues facing the schools and the tough choices to be made. He also has had the privilege of listening to the point of view of many of our senior citizens as they came before the Planning Board over the years to discuss how proposed changes affected them.
I believe Rick Nardella is the candidate with the perspective to understand the issues, and the experience, commitment and balanced approach to provide meaningful contributions to the solutions. I support his candidacy and recommend that you support him with your vote next Tuesday.
RICHARD ROWEN
North Andover
Quinlan has skills needed for schools
To the editor:
I'm supporting Mike Quinlan for North Andover's School Committee.
The School Committee needs leaders and thinkers who will put academic achievement first. Too often in our town, budgetary constraints dominate the debate, and creating top-notch schools is pooh-poohed as an unattainable goal. This is backwards thinking. Funds will always be limited, and high academic standards aren't correlated with cost per pupil spending.
Mike Quinlan has experience in the private sector and an outstanding educational background, having graduated the London School of Economics. I hope you'll join me in supporting Mike in the election Tuesday.
WENDY D. WAKEMAN
North Andover
Home-schooling parent makes poor choice for School Committee
To the editor:
I have read with some interest the recent letters endorsing North Andover's candidates for School Committee. While we are all concerned with judging the various talents and abilities of the candidates, it is also vital to understand the commitment to the mission of the position by the candidates.
The Massachusetts Association of School Committees and Superintendents defines the role of elected school committee persons as follows:
"A school committee must be responsive to its constituencies in governance, sensitive to the diverse needs of all students and learning before the people of the community and, as such, a vigorous ambassador for public education before all citizens."
This mission statement is quite straightforward. It is also at odds with the decision by one of the candidates, Mike Quinlan, to home-school his own children. Home-schooling is of course is a very personal and important decision and I would assume that it was taken with very serious consideration. As such it should be respected. However, the decision not to place your children in the public school system each and every year, for the seven years he has lived in North Andover, leaves no doubt that Mr. Quinlan cannot possibly be an advocate for our public school system and its 4,000 students. It also speaks to his lack of first-hand knowledge of the North Andover school system and workings of the School Committee. How respectful is Mr. Quinlan of our school system?
There is a glaring distinction between the three candidates. Stan Limpert and Chris Nobile are clearly supporters of our town's school children and the role of public education. They have children in the North Andover schools and they actively participate in North Andover schools. Mr. Quinlan, however, has demonstrated zero commitment to our schools, or anyone's children other than his own.
Home-schooling is his choice for his children — but he should certainly not be our choice for North Andover School Committee.
LOIS WALLER
North Andover
><p>
