Politics & Government

Braintree Banker Brings Diverse Volunteerism to School Committee Race

The election Nov. 5 in Braintree will feature at least three write-candidates for School Committee.

Last season Steven Quigley, as a Braintree Babe Ruth volunteer, approached a baseball skills problem methodically and came up with a simple solution.

Some 14-year-olds, having already reached high school, were practicing everyday on the freshmen baseball team. Others, the same age but still in middle school, did not have the same playing opportunities.

Working with other volunteers and parents, Quigley helped develop a program of extra practice two days a week, open to all players, where they could field ground balls and pop flies and pitch to each other for batting practice.

For Quigley, a compliance officer at Braintree Cooperative Bank running a write-in campaign for School Committee, it was just common sense, like taking his youth basketball team out for shoot-arounds outside at Braintree High School on warm fall Sundays ahead of the winter season.

Some basketball coaches complained about the move, saying that practice didn't start until December. But in Quigley's mind it was all about following a simple message: "Think outside the box."

Quigley lives in Braintree with his wife Ellen and sons Christian and Brennan, a sophomore and freshman at BHS. He is one the founders of Braintree Flag Football, a treasurer for the Braintree High School Athletic Association and has at various times coached volunteered with youth baseball, hockey, basketball and soccer.

He is one of several residents who have expressed interest in running a write-in campaign for the empty, four-year seat on the School Committee ballot. There are three open seats and only two nominated candidates, incumbent David Ringius, Jr. and Cyril Chafe.

Residents can write-in more than one name on the ballot under that section, Quigley notes, and he said he would be glad to see both himself and fellow write-in candidate George Kokoros earn spots.

"I'd love to work with George," he said.

Quigley, who served as a Highlands Elementary School MCAS Preparatory Volunteer Tutor for two years, said he would like to focus on student preparation, among other issues.

For instance, Quigley said he would like to see a better homework transition between middle and high school. Students in middle school may get only 15 minutes of homework a night and then, especially if they are in higher-level courses, get loaded up with two or two and a half hours a night in high school.

When it comes to space needs, Quigley would take a holistic approach, looking at student population growth in different areas of town and considering re-districting if it made sense.

He would also examine the curriculum through the school system and work on budget compromises, leaning on his decades of community banking experience.

Quigley served on search committees for assistant superintendent and Highlands principal. He has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Bentley University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts.


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