Fernando said he has innovative ideas to cuts costs and said his business experience and education will make him a good School Committee member.
CHICOPEE - W. Kaween Fernando is announcing his candidacy for the Ward 8 School Committee seat.
"I believe the School Committee needs someone with a business background and the financial experience to understand long-term effects of the decisions we make today. Things like School Choice, pay rates of teachers and paraprofessionals, and the size and structure of administration all contribute to the financial picture in the current year, but can have reverberating effects in future years," he said.
Fernando is the owner and chief executive officer of Vapor Technologies and Age Growers LLC., of Chicopee. His career has spanned various industries and disciplines from razor and blade product development at Gillette and biotechnology manufacturing at Genzyme, Novartis, and Sanofi to supply chain and vendor management at Yankee Candle.
He is running against David Schryver, a technology consultant. Incumbent Sharon Nawrocki decided against running for re-election.
If elected, Fernando said he will put an emphasis on ensuring teachers and staff receive fair compensation and an adequate and timely contract re-negotiation process, while looking at ways to re-structure administration to function more efficiently for the school district and the city.
Currently the teachers are working on an expired contract and have staged two protests calling for a more timely negotiation process.
Fernando said he will push to enact a binding resolution that prevents administration from using faculty layoffs for the sole purpose of balancing a budget, adding teachers' livelihoods and student services should never be options when trying to make financial cuts.
It is vital to prevent cuts to student services and Fernando said he will support the continued School Committee effort to ensure athletic programs remain free for students.
"In August, I was an outspoken supporter of maintaining the REACH (gifted) program in our elementary schools. I will continue to support and speak out for all of our students -- gifted, special education, vocational, academic. They all matter, and as a district we should be working hard to prepare them for what comes after school whether that be more school, a career, the military, and whatever else they may encounter in life," he said.
Fernando said he will offer new and creative ideas for balancing budgets including instituting innovative cost-cutting measures such as instituting a grey water recovery program or renewable energy projects to reduce or eliminate water, sewer, and electricity costs in the school system.
Fernando holds a bachelor's degree in engineering with minor concentrations in biochemical engineering and technological entrepreneurship from Northeastern University. His family moved to Chicopee in 1997 and he attended Edward J. Bellamy Middle School, Comprehensive High School and graduated from Chicopee High School in 2004.
In November voters will have a choice between two candidates with very different backgrounds and outlooks on priorities, he said.
"What I offer is a deep respect for education and educators, a track record of business experience, and an outlook for a brighter future through innovation and new ideas," Fernando said.
For more information about Fernando click on his Facebook Page W. Kaween Fernando for Chicopee School Committee, Ward 8.