By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
12/17/09
After nearly nine years on the School Committee, Beirne Lovely will not seek re-election in April.
Lovely, currently in his third term on the committee, was first elected in 2000. He lost the seat in 2003 when Glenn Pavlicek and Mary Kelly won the two seats and Lovely came in third. He was elected to a second term in 2004 and re-elected in 2007.
“I’ve been involved with the [Milton] schools for 25 years, and I will continue to be. My goal was to see the schools revitalized and rebuilt and for us to get a handle on the finances as best we can, and we’ve done that. I feel I’ve accomplished a great deal. But it’s time for a new face,” Lovely said during a phone interview with the Times.
Lovely, 63, said his decision not to seek re-election was due in part to his work as general counsel to the Archdiocese of Boston, a job he said is a “major time commitment.” He was appointed to that position in November 2007.
“It’s really a seven-day-a-week job. I can’t do both anymore,” he said.
Pavlicek, currently the vice chairman of the School Committee, said it was “always tremendous” working alongside Lovely.
“Beirne has given a lot to the town,” he said. “He’s done an incredible job, not only in his time on the School Committee, but in all the various ways he’s been involved with the schools.”
Lovely has been a Town Meeting member since 1988. In addition to the new school buildings, he said he is most proud of the various fund-raising campaigns he has been involved with, including the “Swing for Sports” golf tournament, which benefits the Milton High School athletics program.
The tournament takes place annually in the fall at Wollaston Golf Club, where Lovely is a member.
In his time on the School Committee, Lovely said a major success was implementing the school system’s first diversity policy for hiring.
“It was really one of the first in the state,” he said.
Lovely said he is also proud of advocating for a change in school leadership and improving communication, including with the promotion of Mary Gormley to superintendent and John Phelan to assistant superintendent.
“I think we’re excited that Mary and John are at the helm,” he said. “I see a lot of good things in the future.”
He also cited the hiring of James Jette to replace Phelan as Pierce Middle School’s principal as a key decision.
Gormley, who taught Lovely’s children years ago at Glover Elementary School, said she has “a tremendous amount of admiration” for Lovely.
“I have known and worked with Beirne Lovely in his many roles as father, advocate for town-wide athletics, boosters member and president, School Committee member and chair, Milton Foundation for Education board member, mentor and friend. He is intelligent, fair, has an amazing work ethic and energy level, and has never been afraid to make a decision,” the superintendent said via e-mail. “The town of Milton and Milton Public Schools are better because of [his] tenure and years of public service.”
Lovely said his advice to anyone thinking about running for School Committee is this: Have a flexible schedule.
“It’s far more than a couple of meetings a month. You have to be prepared to talk to people every day,” he said. “It’s a huge time commitment but it’s hugely gratifying.”
Meanwhile, Pavlicek, who is up for re-election for a third term in April, said he will likely run for re-election.
“I haven’t sat down to talk with anyone about it yet, but at this point it’s likely that I will [seek re-election],” said Pavlicek, who was elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2007.
Also up for re-election next year are Selectman Kathy Fagan, Planning Board Member Ed Duffy and Town Moderator Brian Walsh.
Fagan was elected in 2007, in a hotly contested race where the former library trustee ousted longtime Selectman James Mullen Jr., who is also the town clerk. At press time, she could not be reached about her plans regarding her seat.
Duffy said he plans to run for re-election.
Walsh said he has not considered yet whether he will run again.
“Usually I start thinking about it after the first of the year,” he said.Lovely, 63, said his decision not to seek re-election was due in part to his work as general counsel to the Archdiocese of Boston, a job he said is a “major time commitment.” He was appointed to that position in November 2007.
“It’s really a seven-day-a-week job. I can’t do both anymore,” he said.
Pavlicek, currently the vice chairman of the School Committee, said it was “always tremendous” working alongside Lovely.
“Beirne has given a lot to the town,” he said. “He’s done an incredible job, not only in his time on the School Committee, but in all the various ways he’s been involved with the schools.”
Lovely has been a Town Meeting member since 1988. In addition to the new school buildings, he said he is most proud of the various fund-raising campaigns he has been involved with, including the “Swing for Sports” golf tournament, which benefits the Milton High School athletics program.
The tournament takes place annually in the fall at Wollaston Golf Club, where Lovely is a member.
In his time on the School Committee, Lovely said a major success was implementing the school system’s first diversity policy for hiring.
“It was really one of the first in the state,” he said.
Lovely said he is also proud of advocating for a change in school leadership and improving communication, including with the promotion of Mary Gormley to superintendent and John Phelan to assistant superintendent.
“I think we’re excited that Mary and John are at the helm,” he said. “I see a lot of good things in the future.”
He also cited the hiring of James Jette to replace Phelan as Pierce Middle School’s principal as a key decision.
Gormley, who taught Lovely’s children years ago at Glover Elementary School, said she has “a tremendous amount of admiration” for Lovely.
“I have known and worked with Beirne Lovely in his many roles as father, advocate for town-wide athletics, boosters member and president, School Committee member and chair, Milton Foundation for Education board member, mentor and friend. He is intelligent, fair, has an amazing work ethic and energy level, and has never been afraid to make a decision,” the superintendent said via e-mail. “The town of Milton and Milton Public Schools are better because of [his] tenure and years of public service.”
Lovely said his advice to anyone thinking about running for School Committee is this: Have a flexible schedule.
“It’s far more than a couple of meetings a month. You have to be prepared to talk to people every day,” he said. “It’s a huge time commitment but it’s hugely gratifying.”
Meanwhile, Pavlicek, who is up for re-election for a third term in April, said he will likely run for re-election.
“I haven’t sat down to talk with anyone about it yet, but at this point it’s likely that I will [seek re-election],” said Pavlicek, who was elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2007.
Also up for re-election next year are Selectman Kathy Fagan, Planning Board Member Ed Duffy and Town Moderator Brian Walsh.
Fagan was elected in 2007, in a hotly contested race where the former library trustee ousted longtime Selectman James Mullen Jr., who is also the town clerk. At press time, she could not be reached about her plans regarding her seat.
Duffy said he plans to run for re-election.
Walsh said he has not considered yet whether he will run again.
“Usually I start thinking about it after the first of the year,” he said.
Lovely, 63, said his decision not to seek re-election was due in part to his work as general counsel to the Archdiocese of Boston, a job he said is a “major time commitment.” He was appointed to that position in November 2007.
“It’s really a seven-day-a-week job. I can’t do both anymore,” he said.
Pavlicek, currently the vice chairman of the School Committee, said it was “always tremendous” working alongside Lovely.
“Beirne has given a lot to the town,” he said. “He’s done an incredible job, not only in his time on the School Committee, but in all the various ways he’s been involved with the schools.”
Lovely has been a Town Meeting member since 1988. In addition to the new school buildings, he said he is most proud of the various fund-raising campaigns he has been involved with, including the “Swing for Sports” golf tournament, which benefits the Milton High School athletics program.
The tournament takes place annually in the fall at Wollaston Golf Club, where Lovely is a member.
In his time on the School Committee, Lovely said a major success was implementing the school system’s first diversity policy for hiring.
“It was really one of the first in the state,” he said.
Lovely said he is also proud of advocating for a change in school leadership and improving communication, including with the promotion of Mary Gormley to superintendent and John Phelan to assistant superintendent.
“I think we’re excited that Mary and John are at the helm,” he said. “I see a lot of good things in the future.”
He also cited the hiring of James Jette to replace Phelan as Pierce Middle School’s principal as a key decision.
Gormley, who taught Lovely’s children years ago at Glover Elementary School, said she has “a tremendous amount of admiration” for Lovely.
“I have known and worked with Beirne Lovely in his many roles as father, advocate for town-wide athletics, boosters member and president, School Committee member and chair, Milton Foundation for Education board member, mentor and friend. He is intelligent, fair, has an amazing work ethic and energy level, and has never been afraid to make a decision,” the superintendent said via e-mail. “The town of Milton and Milton Public Schools are better because of [his] tenure and years of public service.”
Lovely said his advice to anyone thinking about running for School Committee is this: Have a flexible schedule.
“It’s far more than a couple of meetings a month. You have to be prepared to talk to people every day,” he said. “It’s a huge time commitment but it’s hugely gratifying.”
Meanwhile, Pavlicek, who is up for re-election for a third term in April, said he will likely run for re-election.
“I haven’t sat down to talk with anyone about it yet, but at this point it’s likely that I will [seek re-election],” said Pavlicek, who was elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2007.
Also up for re-election next year are Selectman Kathy Fagan, Planning Board Member Ed Duffy and Town Moderator Brian Walsh.
Fagan was elected in 2007, in a hotly contested race where the former library trustee ousted longtime Selectman James Mullen Jr., who is also the town clerk. At press time, she could not be reached about her plans regarding her seat.
Duffy said he plans to run for re-election.
Walsh said he has not considered yet whether he will run again.
“Usually I start thinking about it after the first of the year,” he said.