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Longtime Haverhill School Committee member Paul A. Magliocchetti said Thursday he will not seek re-election to the body where he has served 16 years.
Magliocchetti’s decision makes him the second of three at-large School Committee member to forgo re-election during this city government election year. As WHAV reported last month, current School Committee Vice Chair Richard J. Rosa was the first incumbent to say he would not seek another term.
In an interview with WHAV, Magliocchetti said he chose to run initially to help Haverhill rebuild from the financial crisis following the collapse of the former city-owned Hale Hospital and the near loss of accreditation of Haverhill High School. During his tenure, that process led to roles he played in having a new Caleb Dustin Hunking School completed, beginning construction of the new Dr. Albert B. Consentino School and planning replacement of the John Greenleaf Whittier School. One of his most gratifying moments, came in early education.
“Getting free, all-day kindergarten for the entire City of Haverhill—that was something that I advocated for years and, when it finally became a reality, that was a proud moment for me as a School Committee member,” he said.
Other steps forward, he said, brought Early College, Gateway Academy and the launch of the Classical Academy at Haverhill High School. “Probably one of the most successful academic programs in the history of Haverhill schools.”
Magliocchetti also took time to praise his colleagues for the “major impact they’ve had on the children and families of Haverhill.” He pointed to, as examples, efforts by School Committee members Rosa, Gail M. Sullivan and Thomas Grannemann.
Last year, Magliocchetti and Grannemann went to Beacon Hill to call attention to, what they called, a “glitch” in state law that prevents state education aid from keeping pace with unusually high rates of inflation. Magliocchetti explained that state aid should have filled the gap left behind by the end of the federal pandemic-era Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief—or ESSER—program.
“If we were fully funded, we could be level servicing and have no impact from the loss of ESSER. I want to make that clear,” he said.
He said that while he will not be seeking re-election, he remains committed to fulfilling his duties and serving our community.
Magliocchetti was first elected to the Haverhill School Committee in 2009 and has been elected by his peers to be its leader four times—including 2024.
In 2024, Rosa, Magliocchetti and School Committee member Maura L. Ryan-Ciardiello, were allowed to serve out their remaining two years of four-year terms they were elected to in 2021. Since then, the city switched to mostly ward-based elections and two-year terms.
In announcing his School Committee plans Magliocchetti appeared to leave the door open to running for another office. He said, “I have not yet decided what my future in politics will be, but I do intend to remain actively involved and to be a voice in support of the people of Haverhill.”