Fit To Be Tied: School Committee, Selectmen Can't Decide Between Two Finalist to Fill Vacancy

And the newest Belmont School Committee member is ...

Come back Friday. 

That's the decision by the committee and the Board of Selectmen this morning, Monday, Sept. 23, after the combined group twice voted the same tally for two finalists in filling the committee vacancy after the resignation of Pascha Griffiths in June. 

The candidate selected will fill the vacancy 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 to a three-year term in 2015. 

Former Belmont School Committee member Elizabeth Gibson, who served from 2003 to 2009, and Lesley University's Dean of Faculty Lisa Fiore each received three votes in the first round in which they were up against three other applicants; Jamie Kang, Clifford Backman and Meg Anderson. 

When the second vote was taken with only Gibson and Fiore on the ballot, the two candidates each received four votes.

The Selectmen and School Committee will meet on Friday, Sept. 27, at 8 a.m. in the Selectmen's Room of Town Hall to decide once and for all who will fill the sixth seat on the board. 

The inability of the committee and board to decide on a single applicant had as much to do with the "the five terrific candidates," each who could be the ideal fit for the board on their own terms, said Mark Paolillo, chair of the Board of Selectmen said before the elected officials voted for the candidates for the first time. 

Each candidate was given the opportunity to make statements and answer questions coming from each member of the combined group. 

Kang, who ran for School Committee in April 2013 and finished third in a three-person race as a MIT graduate, said she would promote innovation teaching in the classroom, using new technology to further learning for both students and teachers as well as bring the perspective of the Belmont student (Kang is a 2009 Belmont High graduate.)

A Boston University history professor with one child still in the district, Backman said he had practical experience in working in committees where you can promote ideas and programs without being disagreeable. He would also step away from bringing in technology to the classroom and spend the money in teaching and existing resources such as expanding library services. 

The only candidate that did not have children who attended the district, Anderson – a live-long educator as a teacher, principal and consultant – would bring the teachers and principals view to the committee. She saw the hiring of a new superintendent as a priority along with adequate staffing and challenging students to be more creative, independent thinkers. 

After the first round of voting, the clear favorites were the veteran School (and Warrant) Committee member and the educator and parent with children in the district with innovative ideas on partnerships between the town and higher education institutions. 

Those supporting Gibson saw her as "ready to hit the ground running," said School Committee member Anne Lougee having the practical past experience in the budget process and was a member of the committee that hired past superintendent George Entwistle.

"It's such a critical time with a budget and a superintendent's search" that it would be helpful that the committee has a person who has been there, said School Committee Chair Laurie Graham. 

Fiore won the support from those who saw her a bringing a current parents view and "a fresh perspective" to the committee, said Selectman Andy Rojas as well as her promotion of establishing partnerships between the district and higher education which Fiore called a "win-win" relationship for all sides. 

While there was a quick discussion after the second vote to allow the school committee tally, which was 3-2 in favor of Gibson, to hold sway, but it was decided that it would not be fair to Fiore since it was the vote of the entire combined group that is required under the town bylaws.

A final decision will be make Friday.