SOUTH HADLEY — The chairperson of the School Committee was recognized this month by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees for her commitment to putting students first.

Allison Schlachter, who has served on the School Committee for the last five years, has received the All-State School Committee Award and was virtually acknowledged at the Feb. 2 virtual School Committee meeting by Mildred Lefebvre, MASC president-elect.

The MASC board of directors developed the annual award in 1996 to acknowledge school committee members who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the education and welfare of children. Lefebvre said awardees represent the best interests of all constituents, are open and honest with others, school committee members and district administration, and abide by the MASC code of ethics on behalf of students in their district.

“Thank you for all that you’re doing,” she said.

State Sen. Jake Oliveira, D-Ludlow, and state Rep. Dan Carey, D-Easthampton, also attended the meeting and brought state citations from the state Senate and House, respectively. Both Oliveira and Carey served on school committees in Ludlow and Easthampton before taking over their roles as state officials.

“The work that school committee members do to make sure that we ensure quality education to all students that live within our district is so essential and we need people to step forward and run for school committee because we need people who have students’ best interests at heart,” Oliveira said.

Carey lauded Schlachter’s efforts in keeping South Hadley students as her focus, saying that a role on the School Committee can often be thankless.

“It’s not who runs the most efficient meeting. It’s not what school has the best budget. It’s who puts the students first, which we all need that reminder every once in a while when we go through these meetings,” he said. “And Ali has that front and center in everything that she does. It’s so clear to us in the community, and it’s clear to everybody across the state, and that’s why you’re receiving this award.”

Eric Friesner, vice chairperson of the committee, said that the School Committee would be a “train wreck,” had it not been for the efforts of Schlachter.

Schlachter was elected to the committee in April 2018. She served as vice-chair for two years and is currently in her second year as the chairperson.

During her tenure, she said the district faced one hardship after another making the role of the committee exceedingly challenging. Among the challenges, she cited the mold infestation at South Hadley High School, which ended up costing the district more than $1 million to remediate.

“Looking back on my five years on the South Hadley School Committee, I can say with certainty that it has been the most challenging experience of my life as well as very rewarding in unexpected ways,” she said. “Despite these challenges, I am proud of the way our committee operates as a collective team, not always agreeing; but always a team, keeping the students front and center. Personally, I found courage that I didn’t know I had and was able to show my children that even in the face of adversity, we must always do what’s right for the collective and operate within our value system.”

Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.]]>