Candidate for School Committee, Letter To The Community

Letter To The Community

My name is Roseli Weiss. I am a candidate for the Medfield School Committee. My husband and I have lived in Medfield since 1990. Both our boys graduated from Medfield High School.

I am retired now after 43 years in public education. I started as a 2^nd grade teacher before creating and becoming director of a Gifted and Talented Services program. I became a Principal, then a Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Assistant Superintendent and finally Superintendent (experienced, by the way, with Massachusetts School Building Authority in 2 building projects). Educationally, I got Masters degrees in Education, Counseling, Critical and Creative Thinking, and finally, an Ed.D.

Now, retired, I have time to give back to Medfield and believe my background can be an asset. Our schools are regarded highly thanks to the efforts of many, including its educators, town residents, school administrators and the School Committee.Recently Boston Magazine ranked 141 cities and towns in Massachusetts using criteria such as rising home values, safety, easy access to shops, restaurants and healthcare. People looking for homes want a town or city with a school system that shines. Medfield was rated number 8 among best towns to live. The study rated our school system as a 7.8 on a scale of one to ten. We have room for improvement. Future success translates, in part, to continued, carefully managed finances. We need to retain well regarded educational staff and we need to keep abreast of evolving technology that will be instrumental to our children’s future in facilities adequate to meet their needs.There are hard decisions in front of us; respect for the interests of all in Town, together with civility and communication are essential. In context with communication, I initiated the local Medfield television show “Medfield Musings”. It is intended to promote an understanding of who, paid and volunteer, and what, make this Town operate.

We are preparing to celebrate Medfield’s 375^th anniversary. This is a time to recognize that we are one town and while there will always be differences of opinion, we are stronger for those different ideas and stronger still when we talk, listen to one another, compromise and come out as one. The following are core values of our school district as well as what might be an important set of guidelines for our town: Inclusivity, Respect, Responsibility, and Continuous Improvement. Continuing to honor these four areas is vital to a collegial town operating toward being the best it can be.

Michael McCabe, a friend whom I admire as an exceptionally strong advocate for Medfield’s schools with broad business expertise, and I are running together for the 2 open Committee positions. Michael, with his wife and 3 children, is current with school operations and needs, I bring experience as a team player working with school committees, staff, community and students. Together we ask for your vote on Monday, March 30^th to help keep our schools both vibrant and creative.

Remember –

“Education is the practice of freedom. Freedom of students to learn, to grow, to imagine, to belong” (Bell Hooks)

A good education is our children’s ticket to a good quality life and a life as a good citizen of a representative democracy.

Thank you,

Roseli Weiss, Medfield