The central administration, McEachern says, must be held accountable to the committee. She says she supports the present school committee's quest for affirmative action in the hiring and firing of teachers, and agrees with the committee's definition of "qualified."

Noting that the school committee would soon be engaged in contract negotiations with city teachers, McEachern says she favors the involvement of parents in that part of the committee's work.

A single parent with two children in the Cambridge public schools, McEachern has been endorsed by the CCA, the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus, and the Citizens for Participation in Political Action (CPPAX).

David J. Oley

David J. Oley refused to discuss the issues in the race for seats on the school committee, saying that in interviews he had granted other newspapers, he had been misrepresented and his views distorted. He added that he thought his chances for election were better if he did not discuss any issues.

Oley did say that he is the only candidate in the race who supports Proposition 2 1/2. He also said that he though it "disgusting" that the curriculum taught in the city's schools was not strong enough to get students in the system into M.I.T. or Harvard.

Though he has said that he is a Libertarian Pary candidate for the school committee, an official of the Libertarian Party, Lee Mason, has told reporters the party has not endorsed Oley. Mason did say that Oley is a member of the party.

Oley was arrested and charged last Tuesday night with one count of assault and battery with a deadly weapon and one count of assault with intent to murder after Oley allegedly stabbed another Cambridge resident during what police called "a political argument."

Released on $25,000 bail, Oley will stand trial on Nov. 12 in Cambridge District Court. Mason said Oley would not be expelled from the party unless he were found guilty of the charges pending against him.

Joseph E. Maynard

Joseph Maynard, a member of the current school committee certain to win his quest for reelection, declined to answer questions about the election; his wife died recently and since then he has not been campaigning actively or granting interviews.

Maynard has held one of the Independent seats on the present school committee, along with Donald Fantini, who is now running for city council.

In a statement about his candidacy in the Cambridge Chronicle, Maynard said he wants to continue "to provide services and information to school administrators, teachers, students and parents."

Robert P. Reardon

After going door-to-door, Robert Reardon says he has discovered that people are afraid to send their children to school in Cambridge because they doubt the quality of the education and fear for the safety of the children in the schools.