With just days to go until the 2024 election, candidates for the Tiverton School Committee sat down last Thursday, Oct. 24, to discuss their plans to tackle the current issues facing Tiverton schools. Candidates for the non-partisan election who attended the League of Women Voters forum at the high school included incumbents Diane Farnworth and Michael Decotis, along with hopefuls Kimberly Paquette, Jocelyn Sherman and Jordan Reilly.

Candidates were asked what the school's mission statement, which is to provide all students with an exceptional education through high-quality instruction and positive relations, means to them. Farnsworth, Paquette, and Decotis all said that the statements are a positive guiding force of the district, with the work of the teachers being particularly pointed out.

All five candidates either have children in the school system or are former Tiverton students. Some, including Sherman, said their experiences as a school parent were a big part of what led to running for the seat.

“I want to be able to support what they need,” Sherman said. “I want to preserve what works well and build on that and see what we can do for our students to help them continue to be ready for post-secondary education.”

Reilly also shared her personal experience, mentioning that she and her husband met at Tiverton High School and came back to raise their children here. Farnworth also said that she and her husband were from the area, and moved back from Fall River so their son could go to the schools.

Decotis mentioned that he moved to Tiverton as an adult, but said that even as a child, he wanted to be — coming to Tiverton, he learned to love the town and wanted to give back to the community.

Click here to view a recording of the Tiverton School Committee forum.

Candidates also discussed ways to improve communication between the school committee and town council, a hot-button issue for most of the past year. Paquette praised the school's director of finance, who she believes has done a great job getting the two parties together, and that she believes communication and transparency are the keys to making the relationship work.

“I believe that communication is key, that we need to know what is going on, and on a regular basis and the town council needs to know what’s going on regular basis.”

Decotis mentioned that he was previously on the budget committee, which helped him understand the communication issues and that he appreciates the council’s work on the matter. He also advocated for collaboration, selling himself as an open-minded individual who loves to work things out and wants to collaborate with the town council.

Sherman said department officials need to start thinking about the school budget now and that they need to start collaborating, citing tension at the previous night's school committee meeting, while Farnworth stated that the first thing she’ll do is reach out for a joint meeting. She also said that she would advocate for a town-wide finance committee.

“I’m still very hopeful that I’ll be able to convince our town clerk to go this way,” Farnworth said.

\Another issue currently facing the town is the search for a new superintendent, following the departure last month of Peter Sanchioni.

Reilly said the school committee should be working together to bring in different qualified prospects, and then have them hold an open forum where the candidates can discuss their beliefs and what makes them qualified for the position. Paquette said that the superintendent is in charge of hiring people in the school administration and that this is something that needs to be kept in mind as well.

“We need to find someone, we need to search out,” Paquette said. “There needs to be involvement with the community if they want some. There needs to be involvement with educators and anyone that’s within the school department.”

Candidates also spoke about capital projects and a potential new school football field. Decotis said he is completely in favor of a new field, citing that neighboring communities have been adding turf fields and that it would be good for the students for Tiverton to have the same. He praised the addition of boilers and AC in the schools and recent years, but said he would like to see more technology implemented into students’ education. Sherman and Reilly agreed on the field, and Sherman added to the idea of upgrading technology, saying she hopes that the high school can add a media center for the students to use.

Downsizing and consolidation were also brought up, considering the district’s declining enrollment. Decotis said that the buildings do not educate, but taxpayers must stay within their means and possibly look at closing buildings. Farnworth suggested recruiting children from Little Compton who are having an enrollment dilemma. Little Compton high school students currently school in Portsmouth.

Riley mentioned that the school she attended in elementary is no longer open and that the town has come together on multiple occasions to defend the current schools and keep them operating.

Toward the end, candidates were asked about the biggest issues that students are dealing with right now. While there was some discussion on drugs and alcohol, the consensus was that electronics and bullying are among the biggest issues. Farnworth described middle school as a very difficult time for children and that the district needs to focus on giving them social and emotional support.

Audience questions followed, which allowed candidates to express their views on other topics including the idea of the town council deciding the school budget. Here, candidates reiterated that they believe that the school committee and the town council should be working together.

All five candidates will be on the ballot on Tuesday, Nov 5.