Saugus School Panel’s Balance of Power Shifts

Nine candidates lost the race for two seats on the Saugus school board Tuesday night, but district Supt. Chris Wilson may wind up the biggest loser.

His severest critics won the race, beating nine other candidates, including Wilson’s only defender, incumbent Peggy A. Marrone. The election has shifted the balance of power on the five-member panel, which formerly supported Wilson’s policies by a 3-2 margin, said board member Marilynn Blaylock.

“The public has spoken quite loudly and has shown its displeasure with Dr. Wilson,” Blaylock said.

Al Nocciolo, a district administrator who retired recently after Wilson tried to demote him, won the most votes--2,002, or about 29%. Deme Clare Larson, who campaigned with Nocciolo, won 1,521 votes, or about 22%.

Marrone, the board’s president, finished in fifth place with 537 votes, or about 8%.

Only 6,948 people, or about 26% of the 26,462 eligible, turned out to vote.

Wilson, whose management style has angered some district employees, board members and parents, became the focus of the race early in the election. Although all 11 candidates agreed the district could not afford to fire him before his contract expires in 1994, the campaign rhetoric included urging that he take courses in human relations and that he be placed on probation.

Nocciolo and Larson said Wednesday that they will propose that the board limit superintendents in the future to one-year renewable contracts. They also said they will meet with parents, teachers and administrators in the coming weeks.

Wilson said Wednesday that he hopes the board will hire a facilitator to improve relations between him and the panel.