Kevin Stacey
HAVERHILL- On October 7th, in the Haverhill High School Library, the candidates for Haverhill School Committee answered questions about their individual agendas at a “Meet the Candidates Night." Among the candidates in attendance were incumbents Scott Wood and Shaun Toohey, as well as newcomer Michael Shurman, Pamela Conte, Gail Sullivan, and former City Council member, Sven Amirian.
Amirian and the other candidates debated issues such as lifting the caps on charter schools, civics being a course requirement, and the amount of the school budget being put into special education. All of the candidates said they would vote yes on the 18 percent net-spending cap on charter schools. They also all agreed they would vote yes to making completion of a civics course a high school graduation requirement. Currently, civics, which teaches students about the duties of a US citizen, is not a required course in the Haverhill Public Schools curriculum.
Sven Amirian served as president of City Council for two years. After a break from government, Amirian is excited to get back into the action, and wants to be able to help Haverhill’s students and schools. He has three children, two daughters and a son, who attend Hill View Montessori Charter Public School. They are the reason why Amirian is in favor of helping the charter schools.
Amirian also commented on how Special Education should not take up so much of the school’s budget. “It is not worth crippling the whole system just for a few people,” Amirian said, “we have to think of the needs of the entire student body.” According to an article from the Eagle-Tribune, the Haverhill district special education cost has increased by $3 million dollars over the last few years and struggling with a special education cost increase of $1.3 million this year, with another $1million increase expected for next year.
In addition to working on the SPED budget, Amirian commented on the possibility of moving away from textbooks as a primary education resource. “I think that we are definitely phasing out of using textbooks,” Amirian said. “Technology is the way that we are going, seeing as it has more resources, and is up to date. Meanwhile all of the textbooks are outdated, and in poor condition.”
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