EASTHAMPTON — Mayoral candidates Nicole LaChapelle and Joy Winnie met Thursday in a debate that ranged from the opioid epidemic to the attorney general’s civil rights investigation into bias-related incidents at Easthampton High School.
The debate followed the Lincoln-Douglas format, meaning the candidates asked each other questions. People filled the second-floor meeting room at the Municipal Building, and some gathered at the Brass Cat afterward to discuss the issues raised during the debate.
Winnie, 57, has served as Precinct 3 city councilor for 21 years. She was raised in Easthampton and graduated from Easthampton High School in 1978. She holds an associate degree in business from Holyoke Community College. She worked as a school bus driver for a number of years and became transportation supervisor for Northampton Public Schools where she manages an annual budget of over $1 million.
LaChapelle, 50, has lived in Easthampton for 20 years. She served on the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals from 1999 to 2009. She served on the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee from 2008 to 2017, and co-chaired it in 2015. LaChapelle holds a bachelor’s degree in government from Smith College and earned her J.D. from Western New England School of Law.
Incumbent Mayor Karen Cadieux will be retiring at the end of her term. Cadieux has served two terms as mayor and was the assistant to former mayor Michael Tautznik for 17 years.
The election is Nov. 7.
Claims of bias-related incidents at EHS sparked an internal investigation by Superintendent Nancy Follansbee and an external civil rights investigation by the Massachusetts attorney general’s office.
Follansbee released her investigation’s findings along with an evaluation from the Collaborative for Educational Services and a 10-point action plan for the 2017-18 school year.
The AG’s report was released the following day, citing discipline disparities and criticizing how the administration handled bias-related incidents.
School Committee Chairwoman Debora Lusnia said there was no new information in the AG’s report and there would not be a public discussion on the findings (see story, Page A1). But LaChapelle said Thurday the AG’s office’s report “painted a very different picture.”
LaChapelle asked Winnie: “What are your thoughts on the discrepancies between those two reports and how do we let our students and our parents know that Easthampton High School is safe?”
Winnie said she read all the reports, met with the superintendent and was at the meeting when Follansbee went over the 10-point plan. She said Attorney General Maura Healey congratulated school and city officials for their openness and steps they took to bring in organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League, which provided anti-bias training to teachers.
Winnie said the focus on overcoming bias is moving forward and the city is doing everything in its power to keep children safe at the school.
LaChapelle responded: “When that report came out the very next day, I was stunned and blindsided by the disparities, especially around suspension — which means exclusion from the learning environment — as well as the different types of discipline based on what your ethnicity was.”
She said the issues affect one group more than others in the community.
“That’s the students, and I wonder where their voices are in this plan,” she said.
Opioid use has become a health crisis in Easthampton, Winnie said.
“Public safety officials say they use Narcan to revive somebody in Easthampton on an average at least once a week,” Winnie said. “How would you as mayor approach this epidemic to help family and community members who are in crisis?”
LaChapelle said she would tackle the problem first with a community discussion, and would look to public safety departments as well as the district attorney. She said she would also talk to medical providers in the city, looking into making treatment more accessible
Winnie said she would continue to support the Hampshire HOPE program, which is aimed at preventing opioid overdose and addiction. Easthampton and other nearby communities partner with Northampton to obtain funding for the program. Recently, Northampton landed a $1.7 million federal grant, which calls for the creation of specialized overdose response teams countywide and the purchase of large quantities of the life-saving overdose reversal drug naloxone, or Narcan.
When it comes to choosing schools, Winnie said the school choice assessment for money going out of Easthampton was $2.1 million last year.
Winnie asked LaChapelle: “Can you please explain to the taxpayers your position on school choice and why you made the decision to choice your daughter out of Easthampton?”
LaChapelle said when her daughter was starting school in the late 1990s, LaChapelle was also starting a new career. Her daughter needed before- and after-school care, and also a structure that she would thrive in while LaChapelle worked long hours of the day.
“I think that demonstrates the options we that we need in the city while we strengthen our school district,” LaChapelle said, adding that she worked for years to improve public schools.
In her 21 years of service, Winnie said she has always handled all city matters ethically and with integrity.
“I am excited to reopen the visioning process and welcome Easthampton community members to join me in shaping the future of our community for the next 10, 15 and 20 years,” she said.
LaChapelle said she has knocked on hundreds of doors since she announced she was running for mayor in June.
“Listening is so important,” LaChapelle said. “But just as important as listening, is responding. Easthampton needs somebody who will respond. Easthampton needs a mayor that will be decisive and take on tough challenges and make tough decisions.”
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.