Bockelman, Rossetti to Lead School Committee in 2012

School Committee Representative Paul Bockelman from Ward 6 and Mary Jo Rossetti from Ward 7 were chosen to lead as Chairman and Vice Chairman for 2012 at tonight's School Committee Caucus which was held just before their last meeting of the year at City Hall.

On the Somerville Public School's website, Paul Bockelman is described as: "...a member of the School Committee, Mr. Bockelman draws from his substantial experience working with communities. He currently serves as the Director of Administration and Finance at the Massachusetts Municipal Association, an agency that advocates on behalf of Massachusetts cities and towns. He served as Town Manager for 14 years in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, where he oversaw town budgets, negotiated with municipal unions, and facilitated communication between town government and the School Committee. A long time volunteer in the Somerville Public Schools, Mr. Bockelman helped coordinate public participation in the School Superintendent search process. A frequent classroom volunteer at the Healey School, he also served a three-year term as co-chair of the citywide Choice Program. Mr. Bockelman holds a Masters in City Planning degree from MIT and a Bachelor's Degree from Hampshire College. He and his wife Cathy have lived in Somerville for more than 25 years. Their children, Corey and Mattie, attend Somerville Public Schools."

Mary Jo Rossetti's profile reads, "Mary Jo Rossetti is completing her tenth year on the Somerville School Committee representing Ward 7. She Chaired the Committee for two years and has held leadership positions with Subcommittees for Curriculum & Instruction, Finance & Facilities, Rules, and Personnel Committees. A former Somerville High School PTA president and co-chair of three school councils, Ms. Rossetti additionally served long active as a youth sports director, Girl Scout leader, religious education instructor, and prolific fund raiser for public education. Ms. Rossetti is a leader in statewide School Committee advocacy. In 2006, she accepted a leadership position with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees as Division II Secretary/Treasurer, moving quickly to Vice Chair and Division Chair in 2007, a position she currently holds. She continues to be active in the association's Urban Division (Division IX). In 2007 she accepted the position of Chair of the state-wide Advocacy Committee which supports public policy approved by the Delegate Assembly. She continues to hold this position. In this capacity, she has overseen the development of several MASC public policy documents, spoken at the Day on the Hill, appeared at Joint Conference sessions, and accompanied the MASC delegation to Washington as a member of the Federal Relations Network in 2007 and 2008. Last year, Rossetti was named PTA Person of the Year in Somerville. Ms. Rossetti and her husband Rick are life-long Somerville residents and both graduates of SHS. Both of their daughters received Bachelors Degrees from Stonehill College following their graduation from Somerville High School."

Both will be formally inducted along with the Board of Alderman President and Vice President at the Inauguration Meeting scheduled for January 2nd, 2012.