Juelis, Reno plan runs for Grafton School Committee

Craig Juelis and Cherilyn Reno have entered the rapidly crowding race for School Committee in the May 17 Town Election.

Both have pulled nomination papers for the two three-year terms on the board.

Reno, who has degrees in biochemistry and linguistics, homeschooled her two older children and her youngest is a Grafton Middle School student.

“I am running because I admire the work that the School Committee and Superintendent Cummings have been doing in the past several years making the Grafton Public Schools a more welcoming environment for all students, and would like to work with them to continue this progress going forward,” Reno said.

“I am passionate about the anti-bullying and social-emotional learning curricula that GPS has been offering, and am excited to explore ways to extend this effort. I have a heart for students with different abilities and learning styles, especially those who may be slipping under the radar because their school performance is ‘good enough.’  I’d like to work to ensure that when students graduate from needing an IEP, they are still able to get supports they need to help them be truly successful.”

Juelis, who was not available for comment, has served as a principal in the Medway and North Attleborough school districts and has worked as an educator since the early 2000s.

There are three School Committee seats on the ballot for the Town Election. To date:

Incumbent Amy Marr, the current School Committee chair, has pulled nomination papers for re-election to her three-year seat

 Incumbent Jennifer Connelly announced she will not seek re-election

Mariagraciela Vargas-Baker, who was appointed to the School Committee earlier this month, has also declared for the one year remaining in the term of Rahul Rathi, who resigned in December. 

Liora Bram, a communications and marketing professional who serves as co-chair of the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee, has pulled nomination papers for a three-year seat. 

Also in the running thus far:

Select Board — Finance Committee member Andy Jefferson and Richard Whitney, a current member of the Community Preservation Commission and a retired businessman, are seeking nomination.

Planning Board: David Robbins and Prabhu Balaji Venkataraman are seeking re-election.

Nomination papers are now available in the Town Clerk’s office. Remaining seats on the ballot this year include:

• Select Board – Two 3-year terms, currently held by Peter Carlson and Doreen DeFazio, are up for election. Both are not seeking re-election. 
• School Committee — Two 3-year terms, currently held by Amy Marr and Jennifer Connelly and one 1-year term, now held by Mariagraciela Vargas-Baker. Connelly is not seeking re-election.
• Board of Library Trustees – Two 3-year terms, currently held by Dana Wilson and Daniela Sharma, are up for election.
• Planning Board – Two 3-year terms, currently held by David Robbins and Prabhu Balaji Venkataraman, are up for election. 
• Town Clerk – One 3-year term, currently held by Kandy Lavallee, is up for election.

Papers must be returned by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29 for certification. Nomination papers must contain the names of at least 50 registered voters of Grafton, but candidates are urged to submit more than the minimum number required in case some names or signatures cannot be verified. Candidates may withdraw their nomination papers up until 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 14.

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