I have unwavering confidence in our public schools and believe that the diversity of our community is a major asset in the education and life preparation of our young people. Nevertheless, any school district of this size and complexity will have issues that should be addressed with greater urgency.

We must find ways improve the maintenance of our school facilities. Clean, attractive school buildings materially improve the appetite for learning in students and help raise our teachers’ energy and morale. As the mold situation this fall unfolded, it became abundantly clear that our older buildings and portable classrooms are particularly vulnerable to this problem. When an issue like mold threatens the health of our students and teachers we must be able to respond quickly and effectively and put aside concern for cost.

And if we are to educate a diverse student population and help them contribute to Stamford’s bright future, we are going to have to find ways to recruit an administrator/teacher corps and develop language programs that are equally diverse. The District has been diligent in seeking the right teachers in a very competitive market but the Board must challenge them to do still better.

I am proud to have played a role in the recruitment of Superintendent Earl Kim.
Earl has introduced a new Strategic Plan that develops students’ “habits of mind, body and heart.” The Plan includes goals and measurements for all three aspects of the school district’s mission. The Superintendent also has personal goals and measurements developed each year with the Board and the Board has its own goals. All these are available for the public’s inspection.

Just some of the measures we are using that will be most indicative of our future success:

• Year-over-year assessment of each student’s improvement in math and literacy

What counts is the individual’s progress each year, not a comparison of average scores with other school districts.

• High school graduation rates

Graduation signals full participation in public education and a diploma is an essential credential for entry in job market.

• College completion rate

We measure the performance of our students after they leave our schools how effectively we have prepared them for college.

• Reduced absenteeism as a measure of student engagement

• Increased number of students who are assured access to a sound meal and some form of physical activity during the school day

The Board of Education is responsible for hiring the Superintendent, for approving an annual budget and for collective bargaining with our employee groups. The current Board recruited a fine Superintendent. In the last two years we have sent budgets to the Board of Finance with spending increases of two percent or less, and we have negotiated bargaining agreements with unusually small wage hikes.

But I believe the Board’s most important role, day-to-day, is to assure a positive atmosphere for our schools. We oversee the work of the Superintendent and through him the work of the staff, teachers and other school employees. To succeed the Board needs present a positive image and must operate cooperatively. I am very proud that Stamford’s current Board of Education sticks together regardless of personality or political party. We work hard to make it about our children, teachers and staff and not about ourselves. It is an honor to lead a team of nine dedicated volunteers who make up the Board of Education.

We have a chance in this election to keep the Board intact and continue to work together in support Stamford’s schools. Nothing could be more important to our cities future, and there could be no higher form of public service.