UPDATE: Fiore Named to Fill Vacant School Committee Seat

Lesley University's Dean of Faculty Lisa Fiore was named to fill the vacancy on the Belmont School Committee.

In a joint meeting of the Belmont Board of Selectmen and the School Committee on Monday, Sept. 30, Fiore earned six votes to two for the other finalist, former Belmont School Committee member Elizabeth Gibson.

While each member of the School Committee expressed their enthusiasm in working with Fiore, two – Anne Lougee and Committee Chair Laurie Graham – noted publicly their displeasure with an e-mail circulated to parents of students by a former School Committee member days before the vote that promoted Fiore's candidacy in what they believed was "unfair" to Gibson.

The email from former School Committee member Karen Parmett stated the "differences between the two candidates couldn't be more stark" between Fiore, which, in a suggested letter parents could send to each member of the joint committee, would be "a catalyst for change; we need fresh new ideas" while describing Gibson as a candidate "who represents the past and not the future."

"Please vote to move Belmont ten giant steps forward, rather than ten giant steps backward" reads a portion of the suggested letter to the joint committee. 

"I wish to express dismay at the negativity that was displayed in this process," said Lougee concerning the email.

"I would hope that the sort of careless discourse in the mail and in online comments would not prevent others from running in the future," said Lougee.

"I was saddened as Anne Lougee said by the tenor of the conversation. It's important for elected officials to listen to their constituency ... but its been a little bit stressful to hear the level and the tone of come of those conversations," said Graham.

The vote broke down as: 

Fiore: Elyse Shuster (School Committee), Laurie Slap (School Committee), Kevin Cunningham (School Committee), Ralph Jones (Selectman), Andy Rojas (Selectman) and Mark Paolillo (Selectman).

Gibson: Anne Lougee (School Committee) and Laurie Graham (School Committee). 

After the vote, the joint committee voted unanimously inviting Fiore on the board. 

"I really looking forward to working with the school committee and other committees in Belmont," said Fiore.

Fiore said while the curriculum subcommittee may appear to be a natural fit for her due to her background and teaching the subject at Lesley, "I first have to learn about what the committee's needs are so if they want me on the search committee (for a new superintendent) I'd be more than happy to do that." 

Fiore's appointment comes after the joint committee deadlocked twice with equal votes for both finalists a week ago. Monday's meeting was the third attempt to name a successor for the seat held by Pascha Griffiths. 

The mother of two Belmont School District students, Fiore will serve for the eight months until the April town election where the position will be on the ballot for a single-year term. It will revert back to a three-year term in 2015.