“Recognition closes a chapter defined by resilience and collaboration“
A significant portion of the April 16th Reading School Committee meeting was devoted to reflection, recognition, and transition as committee members paused their regular agenda to acknowledge election results and honor a departing colleague whose influence has shaped the district for years.
At the request of the chair, the committee briefly stepped away from scheduled reports to formally recognize the results of the recent town election. Members offered congratulations to those elected and reelected, noting the respectful tone of the campaign and its reflection of the committee’s longstanding culture of collaboration and civic engagement.
The meeting then shifted to a heartfelt acknowledgment of Carla Nazzaro, a long-serving School Committee member who is concluding her term after first being elected in 2020. Committee members recalled that they were sworn in just days before the district entered the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, placing newly elected members immediately into crisis leadership roles.
Speakers reflected on the challenges of navigating school closures, remote learning, leadership transitions, and intense public scrutiny during that period. Throughout these challenges, Nazzaro was consistently credited with providing thoughtful leadership, holding colleagues accountable, and maintaining professionalism during difficult and often emotional discussions.
Several members spoke about her tenure as both chair and vice chair of the committee, emphasizing the significant amount of behind-the-scenes collaboration that accompanies those roles. They highlighted her ability to balance differing viewpoints while keeping discussions grounded in the long-term interests of students and the district.
A major focus of the recognition was Nazzaro’s leadership of the Killam School Building Committee. Committee members and administrators described the role as requiring hundreds of hours of meetings, site visits, and complex decision-making. Nazzaro was credited with guiding the project through critical phases, including design development, community engagement, and coordination with town officials. Members noted that the progress now visible on the project is the result of years of persistence and detailed work.
Superintendent Dr. Thomas Milaschewski joined the committee in expressing gratitude for Nazzaro’s service, thanking her for her extensive commitment and active involvement with administrators and staff. He described her leadership as especially impactful during the most challenging situations facing the district, when steady guidance and careful judgment were essential.
Other committee members reflected on Nazzaro’s willingness to take on the most complex and sensitive issues, often when they were politically or emotionally charged. Her approach, they said, was shaped by a deep focus on students and a belief in doing what was best for the district, even when those decisions were difficult.
In her closing remarks, Nazzaro thanked her colleagues and reflected on her time on the committee, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and shared purpose.
It has really truly been a complete pleasure working with all of you,” she said.
The recognition concluded with appreciation for Nazzaro’s six years of service and confirmation that she will continue her involvement with the Killam project to ensure continuity as construction moves forward. The committee noted that a formal commemorative gift would be presented at a later date.
The moment served as both a farewell and a reflection on the collective challenges the School Committee has navigated in recent years, underscoring the importance of leadership, resilience, and collaboration in guiding the district through periods of significant change.
