Mr. Mark D. Sylvia

"If both boards recommend the allotment at the special Town Meeting, then I think we have a very good chance of getting the money, but it still is up to Town Meeting members," said School Committee Chairman Mark Sylvia.

This story appeared on Page A7 of The Standard-Times on September 13, 2002.

"I can sympathize and understand some of the angst (of) some of the people who spoke," added School Committee chairman Mark Sylvia. Mr. Sylvia said he'd like to see the MCAS be considered more of an indicator, but not as a sole determination on graduating. "But to defy it is not responsible," he said."I think it sends the wrong message to students and the community.I'm not willing to take the chance of jeopardizing state funding," he added.

What occurred was a watered down version, one that the school committee chairman, Mark Sylvia, only decided was to happen.
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Questions by Mr. Sylvia were fielded by Mr. Nellhaus.
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Mr. Sylvia again made remarks to myself about returning to the committee, that I didn't belong in the audience. At 8:35, Mr. Sylvia stopped the questioning to ask how many other people were waiting to speak, stating that the school committee had other business to deal with, and that the forum needed to end.

That's why it's so disheartening to see the Fairhaven School Committee spending an inordinate amount of time fighting about what Committee Chairman Mark Sylvia calls "personal politics." More...

"Thank you to you and your students," School Committee Chairman Mark Sylvia told Mr. Perry.

"There is angst in the community," said Fairhaven School Committee Chairman Mark D. Sylvia, noting that many citizens worry about the requirement's impact.And at least some committee members support exploring disregarding it. Mr. Sylvia is looking for a good exchange Wednesday, but he hopes the committee resists taking action. (The forum will be the first part of the committee's regular meeting.) "I don't want us to be quick to judgment.I don't think that's the purpose of this meeting," he said."It's an opportunity to ask questions, to educate, and to have the Department of Education hear those concerns." "This is not going to be lip service," he said."Once we have a better grasp of everyone's questions and needs, then we can take the next step." Mr. Sylvia worries most about how the state would react if an individual town defied the regulation. There is reason for concern, if a July 11 letter from the Department of Education is any indication. The letter was sent to a lawyer representing several members of the Mass. Association of School Superintendents.The lawyer had asked what would happen to school districts that awarded high school diplomas to students who didn't pass the MCAS test. The DOE replied that the state Board of Education could withhold state and federal funds from such districts and then refer the matter to the attorney general. "That to me is compelling evidence that this isn't just about making a statement.There can be serious consequences," Mr. Sylvia said."I don't think anyone wants to put state aid in jeopardy." "Anytime someone suggests going against a regulation or a law, you have to give great pause to find out what the effects will be on the system," he warned. "Equally important in my mind is that we are role models," Mr. Sylvia said."Every action we take reflects on us." He suggested that changing the MCAS regulation through the state Legislature may be a better way to go. "Ultimately, MCAS and education reform are here to stay," Mr. Sylvia said. But, he noted, the MCAS exam could be used differently.One idea would have MCAS become an SAT-like indicator."It would go into your record and people would look at it, but it wouldn't prevent you from getting a diploma."

This story appeared on Page A3 of The Standard-Times on October 6, 2002.

Plymouth officials just hope their new town manager, Mark Sylvia, enjoys half the success that Epstein has had as general manager of the Red Sox.

After all, in just his second season the Boston boss brought home his team's first world championship in 86 long years.

At 30, Epstein and Sylvia are prodigies in their fields.
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Sylvia still gets carded in liquor stores and restaurants, but doesn't worry about it.

‘‘My hair's getting thin.When enough of it falls out, maybe I'll look my age,'' he said.

‘‘At a department head meeting the other day, they were all talking about Judy Collins' performance at Memorial Hall.I had to admit I didn't know who she was.They got a kick out of that.I did remember the ‘Send in the Clowns' song.I just didn't know the singer.''

Sylvia, who manages 520 employees and a ,134 million budget, is the state's youngest town manager.

He has a few younger colleagues in the similar but less powerful positions of executive secretary and town administrator, but not as town manager.
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The selectmen unanimously appointed Sylvia during the summer to replace Pamela Nolan, who resigned under pressure.
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‘‘I don't think age matters much,'' Malaguti said. ‘‘Having worked with a lot of people in my years on the board, Mark Sylvia has more enthusiasm, dedication, determination and thoroughness than anyone I've ever seen.He's going places.Plymouth is not his last stop.''

Sylvia worked as an administrative assistant in Plymouth for two years, first under Don Jacobs then Eleanor Beth before leaving for a job as a contract consultant with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.
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Beth says Sylvia was a great choice for town manager.
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When Beth retired last year, Sylvia served as acting town manager for several months, but did not apply for the top post.
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‘‘He's younger than most of my children, but I don't have a problem with it at all,'' said Richard Manfredi, director of inspectional services. ‘‘I've learned as much from my children as they've learned from me. It's the same with Mark.
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As young as Sylvia is, one of his bosses is even younger.Selectman Anthony Schena is just 28.

Sylvia loves the diversity of issues in the town manager's job.Police and fire, roads and bridges, budgets: it's different everyday, he says.

‘‘The hardest part is making tough decisions that leave some people unhappy,'' he said. ‘‘That's hard and can make the job lonely.''

He's also struggling to balance his professional life with home life.He and wife Veronique have a 9-month-old baby, Mitchell.

‘‘Sometimes, Mitchell is sleeping when I leave in the morning and when I get home at night,'' Sylvia said. ‘‘That's hard.But we're learning to adjust.''

Sylvia has always been involved in the community.

He was president of his high school class for four years and student government president at American University in Washington, where they take such positions to an extreme.

‘‘I had a cabinet, staff, free summer housing and a stipend,'' he said.

Sylvia has a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration, both from American University.

He served on the Fairhaven School Committee for six years, following in his father's footsteps, but resigned when he took the Plymouth job.

‘‘I'm passionate about government and having the opportunity to affect people's lives,'' he said. ‘‘I'm interested in elected office.

PLYMOUTH - In a surprise move, the selectmen last night unanimously promoted acting Town Manager Mark Sylvia to the top post permanently.

His salary is still being negotiated, but it will be between $95,000 and $100,000, according to the selectmen.

Sylvia, formerly the assistant town manger, took over for Pamela Nolan, who agreed to resign last month.

According to Nolan's severance agreement, she retains her title until January, but is not working.She received about five months salary from a combination of sick time, vacation time and severance pay.

Sylvia's appointment will be effective Jan. 12.

Board members said Sylvia, 30, has the energy, skills and experience to do the job.

‘‘It's the most crucial department in town," Selectman Anthony Schena said. ‘‘It takes a person who has energy, is well-organized, and knows the issues and personalities.Mark Sylvia has those qualities.He is the man for the job."

Schena said he considered conducting a search for an outside candidate, but felt comfortable that there was no one more qualified for the position than Sylvia.

Selectman Richard Quintal agreed, saying Sylvia had the trust and confidence of town hall employees.
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Sylvia thanked the selectmen for their confidence. ‘‘I won't let you down," he said.

Sylvia, who lives in Fairhaven with his wife and infant son, has no plans to move.

‘‘It's the town that I grew up in," he said. ‘‘My heart is in Fairhaven, but my soul is in Plymouth."

He has a bachelors degree in political science and a masters in public administration from American University in Washington, D.C.

He started his employment in Plymouth as an administrative assistant in 1998, working for former Town Manager Donald Jacobs.He spent almost a year as a consultant for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care before returning to Plymouth as assistant town manager during the tenure of Eleanor Beth, who retired in March 2003.

Sylvia also had served as acting town manager until Nolan was hired in June 2003.

He served on the Fairhaven School Committee for six years.

Sylvia anticipates criticism from those who might feel the town should have conducted a search for an outside candidate. ‘‘I appreciate that opinion," he said. ‘‘I intend to prove to them that I fit the bill."

The selectmen directed Sylvia to start looking for an assistant to fill his old position.

Slyvia was earning $73,000 as assistant town manager, but is earning $95,000 as acting town manager.

I ate nachos and Katie had some M&M's and we chased School Committee Chairman Mark Sylvia (who is the cutest man on the face of the earth).We lost, by the way.But I did see John, who is completely content at NYU.Which makes me happy.

Abram called me today and he's coming home in two hours.Double happy.Maybe we'll hang out.

.... "There is angst in the community," said Fairhaven School Committee Chairman Mark D. Sylvia, noting that many citizens worry about the requirement's impact.And at least some committee members support exploring disregarding it........ He suggested that changing the MCAS regulation through the state Legislature may be a better way to go..... ....But, he noted, the MCAS exam could be used differently.