By THOMAS GRILLO
LYNN — Two longstanding School Committee members are calling it quits.
Patricia Capano, the 55-year-old vice chairwoman who was first elected in 1997, and Maria Carrasco, a native of the Dominican Republic who has been on the seven-member panel since 2007, will not seek re-election this year.
“Maybe 20 years is enough, it feels like it might be the right time,” said Capano. “I love the job, but I’m not willing to put in that kind of time anymore.”
Capano launched her first campaign when her children were in elementary school and one of her boys was diagnosed with special needs.
“I was very green, I didn’t know much about education and when it came to special ed, I learned to be my son’s advocate,” she said. “I thought if I can advocate for my child, I can do it for others.”
Among the accomplishments she’s proud of include adopting a unified curriculum, implementing professional standards, and adopting the so-called wrap-around theory, where you treat the whole child, she said.
“We’ve made so many gains,” she said. “We’ve implemented a breakfast and lunch program, extended day, clinics and child care. I saw the opening of Classical, the addition to Lynn English and construction of the Thurgood Marshall.”
While Capano said she will miss reading to students, and building partnerships with staff, she will not miss campaigns for re-election.
“It’s wearing and very negative,” she said.
Carrasco, 55, said it’s time for new blood on the committee.
“I decided this year I won’t run and to take some time off,” she said. “But I will continue my community work. We need to have more young people involved in elected office.”
Not being on the committee will allow her more time to be available to help families with school issues, she said.
The other members who are seeking re-election this year include Donna Coppola, John Ford, Lorraine Gately, and Jared Nicholson. The mayor serves as chair.
A handful of candidates have also taken out papers to run including Brian Castellanos, Gayle Hearns-Rogers, Sandra Lopez, Natasha Megie-Maddrey, and Michael Satterwhite.
Thomas Grillo can be reached at tgrillo@itemlive.com.