By Joe Stewart

On Monday, April 7, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wrentham residents will head to the polls at the Delaney School to vote in the annual Town Election. Among the seats are two for the Wrentham School Committee: a one-year term to fill a vacant seat and a full three-year term. Four candidates are vying for these positions—Cindy Fuller and Michael Hayek for the one-year term, and Dawn Doyle and Meaghan Drennen for the three-year term.

One-Year Term Candidates

Cindy Fuller

Incumbent Cindy Fuller was appointed by the Select Board last year to fill a vacancy. A lifelong Wrentham resident, Fuller previously ran for the committee three years ago in a close race. With 35 years of teaching experience in the Wrentham School District, she has taught over 700 Wrentham students and says she is passionate about the town’s education system.

Fuller has served on two building committees and multiple contract negotiation teams, experiences she believes will be valuable as Wrentham navigates decisions on the Roderick School building project and contract discussions. She says she is committed to working collaboratively with teachers, parents, administration, and the broader community to support students’ academic and emotional well-being.

Regarding the Roderick School project, Fuller acknowledges the need for decisive action and emphasizes her history of involvement with past building committees - her father served on the original Roderick School building committee and she attended 5th and 6th grade in the new Roderick school.  She says she is dedicated to ensuring that Wrentham reaches the best possible solution—whether renovation or a new structure—through a collective, informed decision-making process.

Michael Hayek

Michael Hayek, a first-time candidate, is motivated to serve because of his eldest son’s enrollment in Wrentham schools. He says he recognizes the challenges children face in today’s world, particularly post-COVID, and stresses the importance of play in developing social skills.

Hayek has already begun preparing for the role by reviewing six months’ worth of School Committee meetings and studying details of the Roderick project. He brings a professional background in aerospace engineering collaborating with large teams and plans to be an approachable member of the committee who actively listens to the community.

Regarding Roderick, Hayek is leaning toward supporting constructing a new building, citing issues such as the gym’s dual function as a cafeteria and the noise levels affecting classrooms. He also highlights energy efficiency and safety improvements a new building would bring. Additionally, he says he is concerned about future funding requirements, emphasizing the need for long-term financial planning in light of declining state funding and potential federal policy impacts.

Three-Year Term Candidates

Dawn Doyle

With 25 years of teaching experience, Dawn Doyle says she is driven by a deep concern for children’s development. She reflects on her own childhood of unstructured play and contrasts it with the heavily structured environment of today’s students. She noted that this shift has contributed to rising anxiety, reduced attention spans, and increased social disconnection among children.

Doyle says she intends to bring a classroom-based perspective to budget discussions, particularly in addressing financial pressures from the King Philip Regional and Tri-County Vocational school districts. She suggests exploring more efficient ways to manage special education services such as bundled services while maintaining high-quality instruction.

Her experience on the Burrell School building committee in Foxboro informs her approach to the Roderick project, Doyle explained. She stresses the importance of thoughtful design, citing storage needs and flexible spaces that can accommodate future changes in education. Above all, Doyle says she is committed to ensuring that decisions prioritize students’ needs.

Meaghan Drennen

Meaghan Drennen decided to run for the School Committee after witnessing the COVID-19 pandemic’s lasting impact on children’s learning, particularly in literacy development. She has been actively involved in the schools as a Mystery Reader and field trip chaperone and now wants to take a more formal role in shaping the district’s future.

Drennen points out the importance of supporting all students through professional development for teachers and social-emotional learning initiatives. She is also an advocate for securing additional funding sources to strengthen Wrentham’s education system.

On the Roderick project, Drennen highlights the significance of the school’s acceptance into the state’s school building program, which will cover 50% of the costs. She advocates for balancing instructional needs with a reasonable financial plan while ensuring community voices are heard in the process.

Looking Ahead

As Wrentham voters consider their choices for the School Committee, each candidate brings a unique perspective and vision for the district. Whether focusing on building improvements, financial responsibility, or student well-being, these candidates stress they are committed to shaping the future of Wrentham’s education system. 

To help voters assess candidates, Wrentham Engagement, a local, grassroots, non-partisan effort to encourage greater engagement in Wrentham, has published the Wrentham Voter Guide at https://www.wrenthamvoterguide.com.  It organizes information from candidates: why they’re running, biographical details, and links to candidate supplied information.