Frank Santoro

Email

santoroschoolcommittee@gmail.com

Website and/or Social Media Links

santorosc.weebly.com

Why do you believe you are the best candidate to represent QPS families at this time?  

I have devoted my life to public education by both my community service and in my profession. My wife Linda and I, our two children and two grandsons all attended Quincy Public Schools. I am a life long resident of this city and an experienced educator, serving for over 50 years as a teacher and principal. My experience and school committee membership have allowed me to be well aware of the successes and faults of our great school system. I strongly believe that our school system is Quincy's number one resource and its success is directly tied to our property values. I would like to continue to contribute by using my knowledge and experience in making sure our city's school system remains an excellent one.

What school and/or community activities do you participate in? 

Former President of the Beechwood Knoll PTO and the Citywide Parent's Council. Former member of the Quincy Park and Recreation Board. Former member of the Quincy Arts Lottery Council. Educational Consultant for Boston 25 News. Board member of Quincy Asian Resources Inc. Member Quincy Art Association and Curator of its gallery. Board of Governors Quincy College. Member of the North Quincy High School Basketball Hall of Fame. Member of the New Squantum Elementary School Design Team, Member of the Quincy 400 Planning Team for the Arts. Former School Committee Member.

What do you believe is the purpose of public education? 

The most important purpose of public education is to provide a free education to all of the city's children, preparing them so that they become informed and productive citizens. It should ensure that all children have an equal opportunity regardless of their backgrounds or socioeconomic status. It should prepare its students with the skills necessary to participate effectively in a democracy. It should prepare students with the knowledge that is needed to further their education and career opportunities. It should teach students the importance of civic engagement.

If elected, what will your top three priorities be for the Quincy Public Schools, and how will you implement them?  

1. The most important priority of any school system is to provide a safe learning environment for its students and staff. We are currently the recipient of the results of an outside study that identifies and makes recommendations to keep our buildings up to date with the most recent practices. It also recommends the purchasing of the newest equipment that will enhance our current practices and safety protocols. It is essential we work with the mayor in making all these recommendations a reality. Safety also includes the conditions of our buildings. We must stay ahead of our buildings needs. Identifying areas of need prior to their faulting is important. Air quality, structure, and climate control must constantly be assessed and repaired.

2. Tackle the problem of chronic absenteeism. I am pleased to see that the system has just adopted a number of support services to assist parents in getting their children to school. However, more needs to be done. It is too commonplace to keep children home in many households. At the high school a major reason for failure is being absent. Students ignore policy and find themselves failing at the end of the term. It is a legal obligation of a parent to get their child to school. The school system must work diligently with the court system to hold these parents more responsible and accountable for getting their children to school.

3. The hiring and retention of a staff that is more reflective of our student population. The hiring of our EDI Coordinator was only the initial step in accomplishing this goal. Supporting her initiatives is essential in understanding the make-up of the ever-changing Quincy Community. I have served on the Board of Directors for the Quincy Asian Resources organization. The position has allowed me to work closely with the Asian community and provide the necessary resources for our new immigrant families. I also sit on the Board of Governors at Quincy College. Partnerships between QARI and the college are introducing programs that promote acquiring degrees for immigrants. I have advocated for our high school students to be introduced to the teaching profession by establishing clubs and programs for future educators. Negotiating contracts that are fair to our new teachers will also assist in retaining them. It is most important that our students see images of themselves in who is teaching them, who their administrators are and what materials they are learning.

If elected, what steps will you take to ensure responsiveness and clear communication between you and the Quincy community? 

Creating a more active voice for staff, students and parents in the decision process will enhance communication between the school system and the community. Currently staff, students and parents have a limited voice in the decision making process. Organizations within the schools serve as a necessary vehicle for these groups to have a voice in their school's environment but do they really serve as an avenue for input in decision making and communication? That is why I would like to propose having not only students at the high school being active participants at meetings but also include a member of the Citywide Parent's Council and a member of the Quincy Education Association having seats at the table. Not only will the communication be improved for the community but the groups will also be active participants in the decision making process.

If elected, what will you do to help students, and their families learn about civic participation and voting? 

Getting students to understand the voting process is essential in teaching them to be productive citizens. Incorporating lessons on voting in the Civic Curriculum is important. Having discussions and debates on current events and tying in the importance of voting would enhance any classroom. It is also essential that the students see that electing their peers as representatives for a student council be incorporated within the school's structure. When principal I made sure that the students had a voice through their voted representatives. The student council served as an advisory role within the school. We had yearly elections, monthly class meetings and class officers met with me on important issues regularly. These initiatives gave the students a voice and showed them the importance of being active participants in the election process and engaged in their community.

There has been considerable public support for adding Lunar New Year to the school calendar as an official holiday, but the School Committee has voted against it for the third time in 2025. If you are elected and this proposal comes up for another vote, will you vote to add Lunar New Year as a school holiday?

Yes