MATTAPOISETT — Two candidates are facing off for one seat on the Mattapoisett School Committee.

Incumbent Carly Lavin is running for reelection for the simple reason that “my kids go to these schools.”

According to Lavin, she first got involved with volunteer organizations, working alongside former Mattapoisett school principal Rose Bowman. There, she quickly learned that there were more ways that she could contribute.

“I felt like there was an opportunity for me to understand more about the financial side of things … and that's really at a school committee level.”

According to Lavin, her background as an actuary and as the head of operations at a financial technology company gives her a “deep, ingrained professionalism, code of ethics, integrity, and continuing education,” said Lavin.

In Mattapoisett, a study is underway to consider the possibility of consolidating Center School and Old Hammondtown School into one entity, which could impact the future of education in Mattapoisett.

“There's no silver bullet here. [The study] is not going to tell us [what to do], it's going to tell us the facts,” said Lavin. “As a community, we're going to make decisions and I'm looking forward to helping the community navigate through that.”

In her campaign, Lavin identified three areas of focus: Improved literacy, financial transparency, and the safety of students.

“I want all of the families to have an opportunity for their kids to become avid readers,” said Lavin, who noted that literacy standards have not been uniform across the Tri-Town. “To think that our students across the three towns are going to get the same foundation, to me, it's a no brainer.

Lavin also hopes to continue to work with the Mattapoisett Police Department to keep students safe in schools, especially during elections where the public is invited into Old Hammondtown School to vote.

This year, ten library books held in the Old Rochester Regional High School and Junior High Schools were challenged for alleged explicit content. This has sparked discussion over suitable in-school materials.

“I am not a candidate that is a fan of removing books from a library,” said Lavin. “I think [that] if a book has been put in the library and has been vetted by a professional librarian, then I am trusting our professional librarians to make the right judgment.”

Lavin added that parents have the right to opt out of certain in-school materials.

“Parents’ rights are very important,” she said. “We have them today — we have had them — I don't think that we need to restrict access to books that are in the library that have been vetted by a professional librarian.”

According to Lavin, Mattapoisett’s “passionate educators,” are a major strength of the district.
“I love the school community that they envelope our youngest learners into,” she said. “I really do believe that our schools create hungry learners.”

Lavin is facing challenger David Pierre for a seat on the Mattapoisett School Committee in the town election on Tuesday, May 16.