By Julie Varney
The Haverhill School Committee will have two new members in January who hope to bring a positive influence to the committee by improving the school system and the committee's public image.
Paul Magliocchetti, who finished second in the race with 5,781 votes, said he was honored to become part of the School Committtee.
Magliocchetti, in his first race for public office, said he wants to provide the committee with direction and to end the public squabbling that has given the committee a public relations black eye.
Another goal is to improve the schools' financial situation.
"I'm already researching and studying the issues to begin work immediately," he said. "One of the first issues is grant funding. Right now, I'm closely monitoring President (Barack) Obama's Race to the Top funding because I think there will be a lot of money available."
Former Tilton School Principal Raymond Sierpina, the third highest vote-getter in the race with 5,715 votes, said he is eager to begin working with new and incumbent board members.
"I look forward to being a positive member of the School Committee," said Sierpina.
After learning of the third-place finish that put him on the committee, Sierpina thanked his supporters.
"I appreciate all the support," he said. "I want to thank all of my workers. They worked so hard to get me elected. And I want to thank everyone who voted for me." Incumbent committee member Joseph Bevilacqua, who finished in the lead with 6,052 votes, said he is pleased the voters rewarded him with another term.
"This year people were really upset with cuts that had to be made but they knew I always tried to do what I could with the fiscal constraints we were under and really turned out to show their support," he said.
Bevilacqua made it a point to stress the positive in the campaign.
"We worked really hard throughout the campaign bringing the message of positive advocating for students' needs while being fiscally responsible," he said.
Bevilacqua said he is looking forward to working with the newly elected officials on the School Committee.
"It will definitely be a quieter School Committee next year and I'm looking forward to that," he said. The candidates who failed to make it onto the board were challengers Krystine Hetel and Daniel DeRoche, who received 4,031 and 3,427 votes, respectively, and incumbent Kerry Fitzgerald, who withdrew from the race before the election but still received 3,147 votes.
