Two incumbents and three challengers are vying for three open seats on the School Committee for the term beginning Jan. 3.
Yesterday was the last day to file nomination papers at the city clerk's office.
Incumbents Susanne McIvor and Robert Cincotta will vie against Susan Burstein, a Waltham native and chief budget officer for the city of Newton David Matayabas, a father of a Fitzgerald Elementary School student and a Cub Scout leader, and Lisa Limonciello, a mother of two and co-president of the Whittemore Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization.
Because not enough candidates entered the race, a preliminary election for those vying for committee seats will not be required this September, according to City Clerk Russ Malone. Election day is Nov. 3.
Incumbent Michael O'Halloran pulled nomination papers, but yesterday said he's out of the race.
O'Halloran, a professor at Bentley University with a long standing political career in the city, said yesterday he needs to concentrate on "family considerations." He has served on the Board of Health, City Council and most recently the School Committee for the last eight years.
"It's been almost 25 years of service," he said. "At this time, with young children and other family considerations, that's what I need to focus on right now."
Yesterday, McIvor said she filed nomination papers Tuesday. McIvor was a principal for about 30 years at different elementary schools, including the former Fitch Elementary School and Stanley Elementary School. She finishes her first term on the School Committee at the end of the year.
"Since I chaired the superintendent search after (former Superintendent Susan) Parrella left, I want to follow this transition through," she said. "It's only been a year that (new Superintendent Peter) Azar has been with us."
McIvor said she also wants to play a role in reorganizing Azar's administration, a highly discussed topic during recent budget meetings among committee members.
"There are always some improvements that can be made. I also feel professional development for teachers and administrators is something the School Committee should work on," McIvor said.
Longtime committee member Cincotta filed his nomination papers yesterday.
"I think the School Committee needs some leadership that I've provided for quite a while," he said. "I always felt we needed people with a parent's viewpoint. For many, many, years up until a few years ago, I was a parent of someone in the school system and even though he's graduated, I still feel I have a parent's viewpoint."
At the end of this year, Cincotta will have completed four terms and 16 years on the committee.
"I think we have gone overboard with the budget. I was watching out in that case for taxpayers as well. We have to control the budget and everything else in the schools. I feel we have to maintain accountability and that has always been a hallmark of my tenure on the School Committee."
Burstein is not new to the School Committee, having served 2 four-year terms starting in 1999. Burstein lost her committee seat in 2007.
Yesterday, Burstein said she is excited to compete for a seat, in light of recent fiscal year 2010 school budget talks among committee members.
"I'm very concerned the School Committee hasn't stepped up and done everything in its power to get everything they needed to run the school system," she said. "The budget this year was absolutely unacceptable. They did take action asking the council to restore funding and get to things back on track, but it's made life unsettling and uncertain for a number of people unnecessarily."
The four-year School Committee term pays $9,599 annually, according to school officials.
Attempts to reach Matayabas, Limonciello and Mary Louise Coates, who took out nomination papers but never filed them by yesterday's 5 p.m. deadline at the city clerk's office, by phone were unsuccessful.
Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or at jgilbrid@cnc.com.
