Longtime Everett School Committee Chairman Allen Panarese was unanimously elected by his colleagues Monday night to serve as the 2013 Chairman of the School Committee on a nomination by his friend and colleague David Ela Jr.
In his nomination of Panarese, Ela cited Panarese’s dedication to the youth of the city, his extensive history of involvement with Everett Eagles, Everett Youth Baseball and the Everett Recreation Commission, as well as Panarese’s nearly ten years as the School Committee’s liaison to the School Building Commission.
Panarese has been a School Committee member for the past 11 years and served as Vice Chairman last year.
“I feel Mr. Panarese will do a great job leading us this year,” said Ela.
In accepting the post Panarese, who joined by his wife at the meeting, said, “I am honored to be nominated as chairman by the members of this committee. Although the fiscal outlook is grim, we will continue, as we always have, to give the students of Everett the best possible education we can give them for what we are given to work with. As always, this committee, along with Mr. Foresteire, his administrators and our teachers, will continue to work together to give the children of Everett the latest learning programs and technology to help them succeed in life once they leave these doors of Everett High School.”
Joining Panarese in leadership of the 2013 School Committee, School Committee member Frank Parker was elected to serve as Vice Chairman. It is the second time the eleven year veteran of the School Committee has served as Vice Chairman.
Ela also endorsed Parker’s nomination for Vice Chairman, drawing attention to Parker’s support for the Robotics Program at Everett High School and his dedication to the district’s Science, Technology and Math (STEM) Program.
“Mr. Parker brings a unique perspective to the committee and often asks that question, which makes you pause to think ‘how can we do things a little better,” said Ela.
Parker thanked his fellow School Committee members for their faith in him and closed saying, “I would like to thank my wife, Kathleen, for being my number one supporter, my mother, Lena, for instilling the value of education to me and my siblings, my extended family and friends for their continued support and encouragement and the voters of Everett for rewarding me the opportunity to serve them for the past eleven years.”