I am running for school committee because I believe new leadership will re-energize our district. We have an unbelievably strong school system - we have talented educators and extraordinary programs, and we have consistently been rated one of the top districts in the state. We have done well, but we can do better. The time has come to give voice to fresh ideas and new perspectives.

One issue that warrants our immediate attention is the imminent overcrowding in our schools. As housing capacities increase in town, we can expect our student enrollment to increase. We need to do better forecasting and long term planning to accommodate for this population growth. The numbers show that the school budget has already substantially increased over the past several years, while the student population remained relatively stagnant. If we are already facing the problem of having to cut programs and support staff, what will be the impact on the school budget when our student enrollment suddenly increases beyond our current capacity?

What separates me from the other candidates on this issue is that I have the longest term perspective on planning. My children are young; we have a kindergartner and a preschooler. That means I am personally invested in our public school system for minimally another 15 years, and I am committed to exploring solutions that will benefit students now and in the future.