4 Decades of Commitment: Community, Public Service and Education

You can think of the School Committee as having two roles. First, as the board of directors of a quarter-billion-dollar enterprise (more than half of the City budget!), they have statutory roles in setting policy, negotiating union contracts, preparing budgets, and supervising the Superintendent. The Newton Public Schools cannot carry out effective education policies that support our children’s needs without good governance and leadership from the School Committee. Second, as elected officials, they should be responsive, accountable, and open to the community at large and the variety of constituencies within it.

​

Newton’s children and their families depend on the schools for a great education. But everyone in Newton depends on an excellent school system for the city to be attractive and prosperous. Property values, for example, are directly linked to the reputation of our schools. 

​

The schools will need increased funding in the coming years. We need to maintain everyone’s confidence in the Newton Public Schools to ensure support for those funding decisions.

I have decades of experience leading large complex organizations in both the public and private sectors, including years of collective bargaining experience. I also have extensive Board and governance experience with a variety of non-profit and corporate organizations.  Finally, I have been involved in Newton’s civic life in different ways since we first moved here.  ​