SALEM — Three candidates are running for three seats on the Salem School Committee in the upcoming general election in November.
Incumbent Beth Anne Cooke-Cornell is seeking a second four-year term, while Yamily Byas and Ward 6 City Councilor Megan Stott are on the ballot as well for two open seats.
Current School Committee members Amanda Campbell and Manny Cruz are not seeking third terms. Cruz was first elected as Salem’s state representative in 2022 and is finishing out his second term on the committee.
The city election comes at a time when the district is undergoing significant change, specifically regarding the $455 million high school building project for which an initial design was recently chosen.
Yamily Byas
– Age: 35
– Address: 12 Peabody St., No. 5
– Family: Son Jayden, Mom Kenia
– Profession: Student support specialist at Salem Prep High School
– Education: Degree in business from Southern New Hampshire University
Byas has served as a student support specialist at Salem Prep for almost three years. She said she was motivated to run for School Committee to serve as a voice for often voiceless members of the community.
“I’ve lived in the community for about eight years now doing community service, especially with the Latino population, and I’ve seen the many challenges that a lot of families and students face,” Byas said. “I just want to bring a perspective as a parent and community member. I think it’s important for me to be a voice for those who don’t have one.”
Byas said she would work to ensure all students have the opportunity and sense of belonging necessary to achieve academic success.
“I think the major challenge is closing opportunity gaps while supporting the diverse needs of our students,” she said. “Priorities should include strengthening student mental health support, improving consistent communication with parents — especially those whose first language is not English, and ensuring academic growth paired with a strong sense of belonging for our students.”
Beth Anne Cooke-Cornell
– Age: 52
– Address: 6 Manning St.
– Family: Husband Matt; children Susannah, Cade and Dever
– Profession: College consultant at May First
– Education: Bachelor’s in English, Merrimack College; masters in English, Central Connecticut State University; masters in American studies, UMass Boston
Cooke-Cornell, a college consultant, said she’s seeking a second term on the committee to see through the progress made in the past four years toward achieving the district’s strategic goals. The goals serve as a roadmap for improving student learning, student-centered programming, strong infrastructure, and inclusivity.
“It’s the biggest honor of my life to do this job, and I think there are few things more urgent right now than supporting public school kids,” Cooke-Cornell said. “We’ve made so much progress as a district since COVID, and I want to see that stuff through. It’s going to take another four years at least to make sure that we’ve accomplished or at least made really positive advancement towards those strategic goals.”
Cooke-Cornell said one of the most important priorities for the district this year is to safeguard the many successful programs the School Committee has introduced that are now at risk due to cuts to federal funding. She pointed to programs such as the district’s pre-K program, dual language, middle school experience, and school nutrition.
“We have a lot on our plate, and we’re finally paying our teachers what they deserve,” Cooke-Cornell said. “So those kinds of cuts to federal funding, and not receiving enough Chapter 70 money from the state, puts us in a little bit of a bind. We’ve got to find efficient ways to operate the district so that we can sustain those programs without overburdening teachers. So the biggest challenge will be to find reasonable budget cuts.”
Meg Stott
– Age: 46
– Address: 23 Orchard St.
– Family: Daughter Stella
– Profession: Director of sales operations for a financial services company, Ward 6 City Councilor since 2020 (Term ending December 2025)
– Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications, Salem State
Stott, 46, a director of sales operations for a financial services company, is closing out her third term as Ward 6 Councilor in December. She said she was motivated to run for School Committee instead to continue the strong progress the district has made in achieving student success.
“For me, this feels like a natural next step in my public service journey,” Stott said. “When I first ran for office in 2019 so much has changed, both globally and right here in Salem. Through it all, I’ve had the unique perspective and understand the challenges and complexities from different vantage points, of being both a single mom, a Salem Public Schools parent, and an elected official.
“Salem Public Schools are on a positive trajectory, and I want to help keep that momentum going,” she said. “Essential conversations and decisions lie in front of us, and I believe it’s critical to approach them with compassion, transparency, and community engagement — just as I’ve strived to do throughout my time on the council.”
On the School Committee, Stott said she would focus heavily on budgeting and advocating at the local and state levels to ensure Salem’s needs are met. With an upcoming vote for a debt exclusion to fund the new Salem High building project, Stott also emphasized the importance of communication with the community.
“With growing uncertainty in our politics in our political and economic environment, it’s critical to have School Committee members who not only understand budgeting, prioritizing and balancing, but can also advocate effectively for Salem’s needs at both the local and state level,” she said. “The new high school building project will continue to be a priority, and making sure we are creating what Salem students and educators deserve, while also being fiscally responsible, is important. Communicating and meeting with the community as well as building support for this exciting project will be essential.”
The School Committee is made up of six members with staggered terms, along with the mayor, who serves as the chairperson. The election is Nov. 4.
Michael McHugh can be contacted at mmchugh@northofboston.com or at 781-799-5202