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Friday, September 7, 2018
Murtagh to be guided under New Back to School at Superintendent Induction Program Welch Elementary By Christopher Roberson
A
s Cara Murtagh begins her first year as Peabody’s superintendent of schools, she will have a number of individuals she can rely on for assistance, including Christine McGrath, director of operations for the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS). During the School Committee’s Aug. 28 meeting, McGrath said there are currently 41 new superintendents in the ninth cohort of the MASS. “This is a record number,” she said. McGrath, who was the superintendent in Tewksbury for 19 years, described how the association’s New Superintendent Induction Program operates. “I will meet with Cara for six hours every month,” she said, adding that Murtagh is also required to complete eight full-day content training sessions, and “We don’t give the answers, but we act as a thought partner.” McGrath said that during the past nine years, the Induction Program has provided assistance to 270 superintendents, including Dianne Kelly, the superintendent in Revere.
Cara Murtagh Supt. of Schools
The challenges of being a district’s chief administrator can become virtually impossible without the proper guidance. “The fatality rate of superintendents can be pretty daunting,” said McGrath. However, McGrath remained positive about the outlook for Peabody, as she called attention to No Child Goes Hungry in Peabody, a program that provides backpacks full of food to more than 250 students who would otherwise go hungry during the weekend. “I’ve told everyone who will listen about your backpack program,” said Mc-
Grath.“This is a special place; you have a great leader and she has a great team.” Although Murtagh was the district’s assistant superintendent for six years, McGrath said she will still need to develop an entry plan. “She’s in a new and very demanding role as your superintendent,” said McGrath. Center School playground grant In other news, Jacqueline Orphanos, principal of Center Elementary School, and the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) recently submitted a $30,314 grant request to the Community Preservation Committee for playground renovations. According to the grant application, the last renovation project took place in 2002. The total cost would be $34,314; therefore, the remaining $4,000 would be covered by the PTO. Within the total figure, $20,013 would be used to purchase a Pent Rope Tower, a Revolution Inclusive Spinner, border timbers and play area wood fiber filler from Little Tikes. The estimated completion date is currently projected for May 1, 2019.
Tanners back on the field
The 2018-2019 PHS Tanners Captains Tyler Norman, Michael Lock, Chris Class, Abe Kaba, and Jake Sousa are shown with Head Coach Mark Bettencourt and Team Manager Trevor Josselyn (#55), brother of Hunter Josselyn, a PHS 2015 graduate who was shot in Afghanistan this year. The Tanners are optimistic this year, hoping to build on last year’s strong finish and win their season opener, a feat they haven’t accomplished since 2011. See more coverage on page 10. (Advocate photo by Laura Jolly)
Michael Moreira with his daughter Ana Sofia, a first grade student at Welch Elementary School, on the first day of school Wednesday, September 5. See more photo highlights on page 2. (Advocate Photo by Christopher Roberson)
Big victories in Primary Election By Christopher Roberson
T
he results of the Sept. 4 Primary Election showed considerable margins of victory in the contested races this year with Peabody voters agreeing with the rest of the state. In the gubernatorial race, incumbent Gov. Charlie Baker defeated challenger Scott Lively by 27.8 percent on the state level and by 355 votes in Peabody. On the Democratic side, Jay Gonzalez received 64.4 percent of the statewide vote and 1,608 votes in Peabody to defeat Bob Massie, who had 35.6 percent of the statewide vote and 1,010 votes in Peabody. Baker and Gonzalez will now face off in the General Election on Nov. 6. In the race for lieutenant governor, Attorney Quentin Palfrey will meet Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito in November. In the Primary, Palfrey garnered 58.9 percent of the statewide vote and 1,565 votes in Peabody to defeat challenger Jimmy Tingle, who had 41.1 percent of the statewide vote and
1,140 votes in Peabody. In the race for U.S. Senate, State Rep. Geoff Diehl cruised to victory with 55.3 percent of the statewide vote and 1,448 votes in Peabody. He will face incumbent U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in November. Despite putting up a valiant campaign effort, Boston City Councillor Joshua Zakim was trounced in the race for secretary of state by longtime incumbent William Galvin. The results showed Zakim with 887 votes in Peabody and 32.5 percent of the statewide vote. In contrast, Galvin garnered 2,687 votes in Peabody and 67.5 percent across the state. However, Galvin is not out of the woods yet, as he will face Anthony Amore in the General Election. Incumbent Attorney General Maura Healey will be running against Attorney James McMahon III, who defeated Attorney Daniel Shores in the Primary by 22 percent on the state level. In Peabody, McMahon garnered 1,327 votes to Shores’887 votes.