Daily Item — 2026 School Committee Candidates Forum

Date: April 8, 2026

Section 1: Agenda (Inferred)

00:00:03 Welcome and Opening Remarks — Introduction by forum organizer Glenn Kessler, explaining the format and purpose of the candidates forum.
00:01:10 Candidate Introductions by Moderator — Sophia Harris (Daily Item Editorial Director) introduces both School Committee candidates with biographical summaries.
00:03:02 Candidate Self-Introductions — Each candidate delivers a personal opening statement.
00:06:34 Question 1: Unique Perspectives or Skills — “What perspective or skills would you bring to the school committee that are currently missing?”
00:08:59 Question 2: School Reserve Funds vs. Municipal Budget — “How should the town balance school reserve funds with broader municipal budget needs?”
00:12:04 Question 3: Racism Concerns at Swampscott High School — “Do you see this as primarily a school issue or a broader community issue, and what actions would you support?”
00:15:39 Question 4: Cost Control Without Compromising Quality — “Given ongoing budget pressures, what specific strategies would you use to control costs without compromising educational quality?”
00:18:24 Question 5: Rebuilding Trust After Committee Chair Resignation — “The resignation of a previous committee chair raised concerns about misinformation. How would you work to rebuild trust?”
00:21:42 Closing Statements — Each candidate delivers final remarks.
00:25:12 Wrap-Up and Transition — Moderator concludes the School Committee portion and announces a break before the Select Board candidates forum.

Section 2: Speaking Attendees (Inferred)

Name	Role / Title	Confidence	Notes
Glenn Kessler	Forum Co-Organizer, Community Member	High	Self-identifies by name at 00:00:03; organized the event with the Daily Item and Steve Akonei.
Sophia Harris	Editorial Director, Daily Item; Forum Moderator	High	Self-identifies by name and title at 00:01:10; asks all questions throughout.
Martha Driscoll Caesar	School Committee Candidate	High	Introduced by moderator at 00:01:27; running for the two-year term vacated by a resigned chair (identified as “Amy”). Longtime Swampscott educator and school administrator.
John Jantis	School Committee Candidate (Incumbent)	High	Introduced by moderator at 00:01:59; self-identifies as a six-year incumbent seeking a third term 00:04:07. Senior counsel at State Street Corporation.
Steve Akonei	Forum Co-Organizer (mentioned, likely present)	Moderate	Referenced by Kessler at 00:00:03 as a co-organizer; not heard speaking.

Note: Glenn Kessler references someone named “Gan” in the audience 00:04:22, but this individual does not speak. The resigned former committee chair is referred to only as “Amy” — likely Amy Mahoney or another recent School Committee member, though the transcript does not provide a last name.

Section 3: Meeting Minutes

Opening and Format

Glenn Kessler opened the forum at 00:00:03, explaining that he, Steve Akonei, and the Daily Item organized the event after learning there would be no official candidates night allowing residents to pose questions directly. It was stated that the format would feature audience-submitted questions posed to each candidate in alternating order, rather than a debate format.

Sophia Harris, Editorial Director of the Daily Item, assumed moderating duties at 00:01:10 and read biographical introductions for both candidates before the question-and-answer session began.

Candidate Self-Introductions

Martha Driscoll Caesar 00:03:02 described herself as a non-political person motivated by a desire to give back to Swampscott. She noted her 17-year career teaching in the Swampscott schools and subsequent work in school administration. She expressed a desire to support the schools and improve community understanding of school funding.

John Jantis 00:04:07 emphasized his six years of service on the School Committee and deep personal ties to Swampscott, noting his grandmother owned the former Richdale store on Humphrey Street. He highlighted his involvement in collective bargaining with teachers, tutors, education support professionals, administrative staff, and custodial staff. He identified three key challenges facing the district: long-term financial stability, supporting and retaining teachers and staff, and ensuring every student has the support they need.

Question 1: Missing Perspectives or Skills 00:06:34

Martha Driscoll Caesar stated that her teaching and administrative experience taught her to listen and respect differing opinions. She expressed concern that community members with questions or differing viewpoints have at times felt their opinions were not respected, and indicated she hoped to restore a more welcoming atmosphere for disagreement on the committee.

John Jantis 00:07:22 noted that with a new superintendent in place for less than a year, the committee has implemented measurable goals and priorities for superintendent evaluation — a more rigorous approach than was used with the long-tenured previous superintendent. He framed this as a new skill the current committee is developing.

Question 2: School Reserve Funds vs. Municipal Budget 00:08:59

John Jantis stated the committee watches “every dollar scrupulously” and described ongoing conversations between the town and school committee regarding reserve funds. He cited the circuit breaker program for special education as an example where reserve funds provide budget stability and planning certainty.

Martha Driscoll Caesar 00:10:41 acknowledged that she had only recently begun paying close attention to the school and town budgets and described having many questions about how reserve funds work, why some departments have them and others may not, and what happens to unspent budget dollars. She committed to learning these details and sharing that knowledge with the broader community.

Question 3: Student Concerns About Racism 00:12:04

Martha Driscoll Caesar described the issue as both a school and a community concern. She referenced her experience with the METCO program and recounted hearing a speaker at a Black History Month event on the North Shore describe feeling like “a fish out of water” in the community. She noted the diversity visible at the new elementary school playground as a hopeful sign and expressed a desire to ask the committee what more can be done for students who feel different.

John Jantis 00:13:57 agreed it was both a school and community issue. He cited the METCO program director’s outreach efforts and referenced a recent incident in Lynnfield as evidence that the challenge is regional, not unique to Swampscott. He stated the committee’s expectation is that issues in this area are addressed “promptly and satisfactorily.”

Question 4: Controlling Costs Without Compromising Quality 00:15:39

John Jantis described the recently submitted budget as “extremely barebones” and stated the committee’s priorities are maintaining strong educators and strong student outcomes. He indicated that lower-priority items could be deferred to future years if necessary.

Martha Driscoll Caesar 00:17:18 articulated a “wants vs. needs” framework and stated her philosophy that any cuts should be made “at those places furthest away from children in the classroom.” She committed to performing detailed line-by-line budget review once on the committee.

Question 5: Rebuilding Trust After Chair Resignation 00:18:24

Martha Driscoll Caesar stated she is running for the two-year term vacated by the resigned chair, identified as “Amy.” She described the period as upsetting and cited it as a motivating factor for her candidacy. She emphasized the need to respect differences of opinion and stated that questioning the budget should not be equated with failing to support the schools.

John Jantis 00:19:46 described himself as a consensus builder and bridge between committee members. He stated his approach centers on proactive communication — addressing disagreements before they escalate rather than after. He mentioned already having conversations with Martha and with Katie (likely Katie Phelan, a current or incoming committee member) since filing candidacy paperwork.

Closing Statements

John Jantis 00:21:42 emphasized that the decisions ahead require careful judgment and understanding of district operations. He highlighted six years of experience balancing “listening and deciding, supporting and holding accountable, immediate needs and long-term sustainability.”

Martha Driscoll Caesar 00:23:05 read from the official responsibilities of the school committee, quoting the duty to “actively seek input from a variety of stakeholders, listen carefully to all viewpoints.” She described spending extensive time in recent weeks trying to find school budget information and finding it difficult even with her professional background. She committed to improving information accessibility for residents and strengthening community relationships.

The moderator concluded the School Committee portion at 00:25:12 and announced a break before the Select Board candidates forum.

Section 4: Executive Summary

A Community-Organized Forum Fills a Gap

This candidates forum was organized by community member Glenn Kessler, the Daily Item newspaper, and Steve Akonei after it became apparent that no official candidates night would be held for the 2026 election. The forum covered the School Committee race (with a Select Board portion to follow). Questions were submitted by readers of the Daily Item and Swampscott Tide.

Two Candidates, Contrasting Profiles

The School Committee race features John Jantis, a six-year incumbent seeking a third term, against Martha Driscoll Caesar, a retired longtime Swampscott educator and school administrator making her first run for public office. Jantis is running for a full term; Caesar is running for the two-year remainder of a term vacated by a resigned chair referred to as “Amy.”

Budget Transparency Emerges as a Central Theme

Both candidates addressed budget issues extensively, but from markedly different positions. Jantis spoke from inside the process, describing the recently submitted budget as “extremely barebones” and emphasizing the committee’s scrutiny of spending 00:09:16. Caesar repeatedly emphasized that budget information is difficult for residents — and even for her, a former school administrator — to locate and understand 00:24:08. She framed improved transparency and accessibility as a core campaign promise. The question of school reserve funds and their relationship to the broader municipal budget surfaced as a specific point of community interest 00:08:59.

Trust and Committee Dysfunction

The resignation of a previous committee chair (identified only as “Amy”) over concerns about misinformation was raised directly 00:18:24. Both candidates acknowledged the episode damaged community trust. Caesar described it as a motivating factor in her candidacy and linked it to a broader pattern of dissenting opinions being unwelcome. Jantis positioned himself as a consensus builder who favors proactive communication to prevent future breakdowns.

Racism and Inclusion

Both candidates described student concerns about racism at Swampscott High School as both a school and community issue 00:12:04. The METCO program — which brings Boston students to suburban schools — was referenced by both as relevant context. Caesar offered a more personal and emotional response, describing a Black History Month speaker’s account of alienation. Jantis took a broader regional framing, citing a recent incident in Lynnfield.

Superintendent Evaluation

Jantis noted 00:07:38 that the committee has implemented more rigorous, measurable performance goals for the new superintendent (in the role less than a year), representing a shift from the approach used with the long-tenured previous superintendent. This signals an evolving governance posture that voters may want to monitor.

Section 5: Analysis

A Race Defined by Insider vs. Outsider Framing

The most striking dynamic of this forum is the contrast between an experienced incumbent defending the committee’s record and a newcomer whose entire candidacy is built on the premise that the committee has not been sufficiently open or accountable. Jantis repeatedly cited his six years of experience, collective bargaining involvement, and institutional knowledge. Caesar repeatedly cited her difficulty — as a credentialed educator — in even finding basic budget information, and argued that residents who ask questions have been made to feel they don’t support the schools.

These are not just different resumes; they represent fundamentally different theories of what the School Committee’s problem is. Jantis frames the challenge as navigating complex decisions with steady judgment. Caesar frames it as a breakdown in the committee’s relationship with the community it serves.

The “Amy” Resignation Looms Large

The resigned chair — referenced only as “Amy” — was never far from the discussion. Caesar is running for that vacated seat, and she explicitly described the circumstances of the resignation as a catalyst for her candidacy 00:18:41. The moderator’s question about “misinformation” suggests the resignation was contentious and publicly discussed. Caesar’s response linked it to a culture of disrespecting dissent; Jantis pivoted to forward-looking language about communication and consensus-building without directly addressing what went wrong. The contrast suggests this is a politically sensitive topic where the candidates have calculated different approaches — Caesar leaning into the controversy as validating her candidacy, Jantis seeking to move past it.

Budget: Detail vs. Direction

On budget questions, the candidates operated at different altitudes. Jantis spoke with specificity about reserve funds, circuit breaker reimbursements for special education, and the “barebones” nature of the submitted budget 00:15:54. Caesar acknowledged she has not yet reviewed the budget line by line and framed her contribution as bringing a philosophy — cut furthest from the classroom first — and a commitment to learning 00:17:50. For voters who prioritize demonstrated command of the numbers, Jantis had the stronger showing. For voters frustrated by opacity, Caesar’s frank admission that “I have a hard time understanding what I find” 00:24:08 may resonate more powerfully precisely because it mirrors their own experience.

Racism Discussion: Personal vs. Procedural

The question about student concerns regarding racism 00:12:04 revealed different instincts. Caesar’s response was experiential and emotional — she referenced her METCO work, a specific Black History Month event, and the image of diverse children on a playground. Jantis’s response was more procedural, citing the METCO director’s outreach, a parallel incident in another community, and the committee’s expectation that issues are “addressed promptly.” Neither candidate offered concrete policy proposals, but Caesar’s answer carried more narrative specificity and personal investment.

What Wasn’t Said

Neither candidate addressed several topics that typically dominate School Committee races: standardized test performance, curriculum specifics, facilities needs, or the teacher contract details that Jantis mentioned having negotiated. The forum’s reader-submitted questions steered the conversation toward governance, trust, and budget philosophy rather than educational outcomes — itself a revealing indicator of where community concern currently sits. The fact that a community member had to organize this forum because no official candidates night was planned raises its own questions about civic infrastructure in Swampscott heading into the 2026 election.

Looking Ahead

The moderator noted at 00:25:12 that a Select Board candidates forum would follow after a brief break, indicating this was part of a larger election-season event. For voters evaluating the School Committee race, this forum offered a clear choice: continuity and institutional experience with Jantis, or a fresh perspective rooted in transparency and community engagement with Caesar. Both candidates were civil and substantive, and the forum format — alternating answers to the same questions — served voters well by enabling direct comparison.

2026-04-08: School Committee Candidates Forum