Only two of Somerville’s seven wards have contested School Committee races this year. Four incumbents – Emily Ackman of Ward 1, Andre Green of Ward 4, Laura Pitone of Ward 5 and Leiran Biton of Ward 7 – will continue for another two years. They’ll be joined by newcomer Emma Stellman, running unopposed in in Ward 6.
The committee is guaranteed at least one other newcomer, since the slot in Ward 3 is being vied for by challengers Michele Lippens and Jessie C. Ratey.
Ward 2 pits incumbent Ilana Krepchin against first-time challenger Elizabeth Eldridge.
This election has focused candidates on special-education needs for students, achievement gaps and transparency with community members. The other major issues facing the new committee when it takes the reins in January: lingering construction projects in the district. Construction of the Kennedy Playground, the city’s first universally accessible playground, is ongoing; and students from the Winter Hill Community Innovation School are still at temporary locations since the building’s July 2023 closing for safety concerns.
Ward 2
Elizabeth Eldridge
First-time challenger
Eldridge is chair of the Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council. She is also a documentary film producer who worked on a film about affordable housing in Somerville with the Somerville Community Corp.
Winter Hill: “The closure of Winter Hill due to long-deferred maintenance and safety concerns is unacceptable. The delays in a new building and lack of communication is alarming. We must learn from this and ensure we have the necessary mechanisms in place so that our buildings are safe and accessible for students to learn in.”
Special education: “It’s about focusing on a proactive and preventative model – a strong, supported and well-resourced multitiered systems of support system and state and federally mandated Child Find procedure to identify and manage achievement gaps. And ensuring the necessary staffing support across the board so that together, all students can read, write and do math confidently.”
Side issue: Eldridge says her experience as the chair of the advisory council has shown her how gaps in communication can contribute to inequity. She wants to spark more communication between families and the district.
Ilana Krepchin
Incumbent (seeking fourth term)
Krepchin, a jeweler and sculptor, has lived in Somerville for 25 years and has a daughter graduating from Somerville High School in 2026. She has served on the committee for five years, two as chair and two-and-a-half as vice chair.
Winter Hill: During Krepchin’s time on the committee, “we have worked to hold the city accountable for the Winter Hill schools and other city facilities issues.”
Special education: She hopes to continue to work on “improvements in special education, including increasing capacity, improving after-school and summer program access and expanding multitiered systems of support across the district.”
Side issue: Krepchin advocates for more active play and second-language learning for younger students.
Ward 3
Michele Lippens
Second-time challenger (first ran in 2019)
Lippens has been a public high school teacher for nearly 20 years. She has also worked as an instructional leader through the Teacher Leadership Initiative and as an adjunct professor at Lesley University.
Winter Hill: “In my view, the recent history of the Winter Hill Community School reflects a troubling pattern of neglect followed by a moment of crisis that could have and should have been prevented. Winter Hill is uniquely positioned in the geographic center of Somerville. It’s the only school more than a mile from any city border, and plays a vital role in the accessibility and identity of the neighborhood.”
Special education: “I became involved in the Somerville SEPAC in 2019. As a School Committee member, I won’t be writing IEPs or managing staffing directly, but I will use my experience as a special educator to ask the right questions, advocate for fully funded schools and push for budgets and policies that prioritize student needs over system limitations.”
Side issue: Lippens believes Somerville needs to hire more special-education teachers, social workers and counselors to meet the needs of every school.
Jessie Ratey
First-time challenger
Ratey, a Somerville resident of more than 20 years, works in educational philanthropy. She and her husband run Gracie’s Ice Cream.
Winter Hill: “A primary concern will be improving learning conditions at the interim Edgerly location,” which took in some grades that had been at the Winter Hill school. A replacement school “will not be completed until 2031, so I want to make sure the school community has adequate support at the Edgerly for those 6-plus years.”
Special education: “We can look into other models of how to best allocate special-educator time. However, time should be built into every educator’s day to address nondirect service needs.”
Side issue: Ratey wants to focus on engagement for all students, blending challenge and support so they don’t disengage or fall behind.
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