2012 WHS Grad Now Running for School Committee

Evan Kenney, Wakefield Class of 2012, credits "phenomenal" mentors and video program at the high school.

Less than one year after his graduation from Wakefield High School, a lifelong town resident has announced that he's running for school committee. 19-year-old Evan Kenney is a member of the Wakefield High School Class of 2012, and he is currently a freshman at Fitchburg State University and majors in film and video production there. He credits his time in the WHSTV program with getting him a summer job last year in a video control room at Harvard Medical School, and for fueling his passion and love for video as a career path in general. Kenney said he had the benefit of "so many fantastic educators" at Wakefield High School, citing his former principal, Dr. Kimberley Smith, for encouraging him to express himself while also helping him …

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Greg Liakos Announces School Committee Candidacy

Candidate made announcement Wednesday with various community residents on hand.

Editor's Note: Are you running for public office in Wakefield? Send letters, announcements, and other campaign materials to william.laforme@patch.com. The following was provided by the Greg Liakos for Wakefield School Committee campaign: Greg Liakos kicked off his campaign for Wakefield School Committee Wednesday night with a call for community action to advance the quality of the town's public education system with new leadership and smart investment.  "Last year's overwhelming vote of support for a new Galvin Middle School was a clarion call for public education," said Liakos, of 8 Grafton Street. "Voters  said it's time to reinvest in our children and in our community's future.  "Now the School Committee is poised to select a new …

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Galvin Middle School Project Feasibility Study Underway

The project's managers have started studying options for changes to Galvin Middle School.

With the project manager and architectural company chosen, work has begun on the feasibility study for the Galvin Middle School Project. The study will lay out all possible options for the future of the aging middle school to help determine if a new school should be constructed or if the current one should be renovated. The study is expected to be completed in September, when the completed study’s findings will be presented to the the Galvin Middle School Advisory Committee, the Wakefield Permanent Building Committee, and the Wakefield School Committee, who will choose which option to pursue. Several forums have been scheduled for next week  in order to receive public input: School Committee Reaction The school committee members expressed …

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Event Spotlight: School Committee Meeting

Tonight at WCAT, 7 p.m.

The Wakefield School Committee meets tonight. On the agenda, among other items, is a welcome to Marie McNamee, the new principal of the Woodville School, an update to the school's IT reorganization, a full report on fiscal year 2011, and an update from the Galvin Middle School Building Committee. The full agenda may be found here:August 9 2011.pdf.

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Event Spotlight: School Committee Meeting

Find out what's on the agenda for the July 20th School Committee meeting.

The Wakefield School Committee has a full agenda for tonight, with updates on the Galvin School Project, student activity fees at the Galvin Middle School, and the FY2011 budget all on the agenda. The meeting is open to anyone who wants to attend, and will also be broadcast on WCAT. Download the full agenda here.  Wakefield Patch will have coverage of the meeting starting on Thursday.

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What's Up, Wakefield?

Five Things to Know Today, June 28

How to sponsor a blood drive, where to find a nearby Farmers' Market tonight, and more things to know today.

1. Another hot one! Today will be mostly sunny with a high near 81, according to the National Weather Service. 2. Sponors needed: The American Red Cross is seeking schools, organizations, or businesses to step up and sponsor blood drives in Wakefield and around New England.  Call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org for drive details. 3. Adult Summer Reading Program - If you need more motivation to help you through your summer reading list, the Beebe Library is offering special prizes to adults who read any book, magazine, listen to audio, or watch video then write a short review. The grand prize for the venture is a yearlong family membership to Historic New England. Check out more details here. 4. School Committe Meeting - The …

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School Committee, State Rep. Paul Brodeur, Honor Retiring Employees

State Rep. Paul Brodeur attended Tuesday night's School Committee meeting to honor Finance Committee member Al Palmerino and the 12 retiring faculty members from the Wakefield Public School system.

The Wakefield School Committee honored the retiring faculty of the Wakefield Public School System at Tuesday’s meeting, which was also attended by state representative Paul Brodeur. Brodeur was present to thank the faculty on behalf of the state for their dedication to the educational system and for contributing the collective educational well being of so many students over the years. “You should all be extraordinarily proud of yourselves on the careers that you’ve had and the impact you’ve had on the community,” Brodeur said. “There’s 344 years, if I did the math right, of service to the Wakefield community between all of you, that’s really a remarkable thing, so on behalf of the state government I just want to thank you for all you’ve …

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School Committee Discusses Greenwood School Security

In the past, the school has played host to many "undesirable activities," that reportedly occur after-hours in the summer months.

Neighbors of the Greenwood School have long complained that undesirable activities are commonplace outside of Greenwood during non-school hours, and with summer approaching, those issues are expected to move back to the forefront. At best, these activities include late night basketball and unnecessarily noisy gatherings. At worst, these activities include alleged drug use  and dumpster fires. At their May 24th meeting, the Wakefield School Committee discussed the problem and possible solutions. “The bottom line is that the neighbors are looking forward to an uneventful summer,” said Tom Markham III, vice chairman of the School Committee. “And unfortunately in the past couple of summers, and even sometimes during the school year, there is a…

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Class Size Limits Waived for Upcoming School Year

The Wakefield School Committee voted unanimously to waive the class size policy for the upcoming year, potentially opening the door for larger class sizes in the fall.

The Wakefield School Committee voted unanimously yesterday to waive the school’s class size policy for the next school year, potentially opening the door for larger class sizes in the fall. The existing policy stipulates that low class sizes be maintained to “provide an appropriate educational setting for each of the children in the Wakefield School System.” Specifically, the policy called for: However, the policy also stated “should appropriate funding not be forthcoming…the committee recognizes that it will have to alter its class size goals for that year and re-evaluate this policy.” With the requirements waived for the next school year, the Superintendent Joan Landers will now have the flexibility to work with the class sizes in order …

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