My Platform: A Commitment to Good Governance
Good governance is the foundation of a successful school system. When dysfunction creeps into school committee governance, it affects multiple facets of education including: instruction in our classrooms, recruitment and retention of high quality teachers and administrators, effective maintenance of our facilities, and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars. We deserve school committee members who are committed to good governance.
Good governance happens when the school committee stays focused on its three core responsibilities:
Setting policy
Approving and managing the budget
Hiring and managing the superintendent
As a school committee member committed to good governance, I will:
1) Lead by example. The School Committee must stay in its lane, managing policy and budget while empowering MPS administrators to operate the district without School Committee interference or overreach.
Build public trust through integrity and accountability.
Engage honestly with the community: The school committee cannot successfully advocate for the needs of the schools without earning the community’s confidence.
2) Be fiscally responsible with taxpayer funding
Manage limited resources by prioritizing student learning, educator compensation, and facilities management.
Utilize long-term planning to address the district’s needs and rebuild community trust.
Draw on the expertise of our educators and topic-matter experts to plan significant capital projects, allocate limited financial resources, craft policy, and build the academic calendar.
3) Prioritize students and schools over petty politics
Listen, not lecture, in order to build consensus around district initiatives and priorities. Support students, teachers, and families by advocating for critical resources while recognizing fiscal constraints.
Trust the education experts: Make decisions grounded in advice from subject-matter experts, not based on personal opinion or perceived public opinion.