Candidates spar on education at debate; Koch says Quincy schools failed fire checks

QUINCY - Taking a tough tone, Tom Koch called Mayor William Phelan “incompetent” for letting high school construction costs climb $46 million and asked why several of the city’s public schools have continually “failed” fire-safety inspections.

In what has become a routine debate exchange, Phelan responded by linking his opponent to plans that collapsed seven years ago to build the high school atop a former industrial landfill. Phelan downplayed Koch’s unexpected reference to the fire-safety inspections, dismissing it as “scare tactics.”

Fire Chief Timothy E. Pettinelli said later in the day that all schools meet fire safety standards. He said quarterly inspections have only turned up “minor housekeeping issues” over the years like storage boxes blocking hallways.

“If in fact there was a public safety hazard, it would be corrected on the spot-. Let me assure you of that,” Pettinelli said.

The candidates met Tuesday for the first of three live televised debates, sponsored by The Patriot Ledger, leading up to the Nov. 6 election. The debate, one hour long, took place at North Quincy High School before a student audience, with students asking questions of their own.

The education-only discussion was wide-ranging and at times combative.

Phelan deemed as the most pressing need in the school system better integrating the city’s diverse student body, and he expressed support for teaching foreign languages earlier, perhaps in elementary school.

Koch vowed he would hire a health coordinator for each high school to cut down on drug and alcohol abuse among students.

The candidates’ own education was also an open topic.

Koch, who left Quincy College without a degree after a year and a half, said his ability to run the city has been learned over 20 years in city administration, during which time he “wrote budgets,” “brought people together,” and “hired and fired.”

Phelan said he “chose a different path,” earning undergraduate and law degrees, and gaining private-sector experience as a lawyer, which he said has qualified him to oversee the city’s $250 million budget.

High school students called for better student transportation and better control over teen violence, and sought the candidates’ views on school uniforms. Both candidates said they support dress codes, but oppose strict uniform policies.

But bricks and mortar, not classroom issues, was where the candidates clashed the most.

Koch called Phelan “incompetent,” saying he “blew” a chance to get state reimbursement cash to build a middle school. And he said costs for a new high school have ballooned to make the project the “most expensive high school per student in the history of the commonwealth.”

Koch cited a state building report that referred to a hallway in Central Middle School as “medieval.” He vowed to convene a committee to pinpoint the best spot to build a middle school and to begin vying for state cash. The mayor said the latter is already in the works.

Phelan, after disputing Koch on why the city has received no state cash for the project, turned the criticism into a chance to tout an energy-efficiency program begun this year that is expected to bring $22 million in construction and upgrades to the city’s schools, including a new roof and improved lighting at Central Middle School.

Phelan recalled being labeled the “education mayor” for yearly increases to the school budget, the founding of all-day kindergarten, and early literacy programs, he said.

The student audience at the debate said the political face-off was captivating. Some questioned why the candidates focused so heavily on issues that have already been settled.

“It’s clear they have some grudges that should be let go,” said North Quincy senior Christian Arredondo, 17. “Some of these things happened 15-some-odd years ago when some of us weren’t even born.”

John P. Kelly may be reached at jkelly@ledger.com.