Expect More (Substantive Ideas & Independent Thinking). Please Vote on April 17th!

In many ways, I believe my children are getting a wonderful education simply by being citizens in our wonderful community.  They are growing up with families of all different constructs, races and ethnicities.  Only in towns like Maplewood and South Orange would my (then) four-year old daughter’s Diwali ‘wish list’ include swapping out Daddy for another Mama for a week so she too could enjoy the perceived joys of having two moms.  People move to these towns because they fall in love with the type of life these communities have to offer.  I want them to also move, and stay, here because of what our school district has to offer. 

The last few months on the campaign trail have taught me a lot about our district, our curriculum, our achievements and opportunities for future success.  All six candidates have shown their passion for education and their commitment to the issues.  I believe that there is a stark difference, however, between the two sets of candidates who are hoping for your votes this coming Tuesday, April 17^th. 

I believe that Wayne Eastman, Jeff Bennett and I are running on a platform that is best-filled with ideas about how to improve our school district.  We've published many of them on our website, www.votesoma2012.com.

Among these ideas is reinforcing the role of the Board of Education as the body that defines district goals and asks the Superintendent to lead their implementation.  This relationship insures that district parents and community members have the most direct (via their votes) say in the decisions impacting our schools and taxes. 

Some members of the Board have lost sight of this relationship, the result of which has led to a break-down in process as seen in the recent Middle School deleveling.  During the three months between the initial presentation and the final approval of the proposal, not one alternate solution was evaluated and not one responsive change was made to address parents’ concerns.

The other three candidates are running on a platform that is centered on “Support(ing) the Superintendent.”  We believe that the best way to support the Superintendent is by requiring transparent, data-driven discussion about program changes, by insisting that any suggested change be evaluated alongside their costs, and by being frank and accurate about the successes and failures of past policy changes.

We also believe the addition of independent thinking to the board offers the best chance to identify new issues and to introduce new ideas into the district.   Nearly 70% of new students entering 8^th grade during the past year entered at remedial learning levels.  A ‘newcomers’ program designed to help these children and their parents to navigate our school system might offer a low-cost way to improve outcomes.  In our district, across grades, girls outscore boys on the NJASK by about 10 percentage points.  We believe that there is a gender achievement gap in which our boys are falling behind.  We would like to see more non-fiction reading and science and social studies coursework in elementary school, as well as a 5^th grade organizational skills program that might better prepare all students (but especially boys) for middle school. 

Wayne Eastman, Jeff Bennett and I are committed to hosting monthly office hours and to sharing our personal email addresses in order to foster open, ongoing communication with parents, students and teachers.  We’re committed to trying to change the tenor of Superintendent and teacher relations, which today seems filled with tension and bad feelings.  We’re committed to a more candid discussion about school spending, in order to foster a basic, community-wide understanding of the school budget.

We would like to improve the way in which the district communicates with parents, making written material easier to understand and by making the district’s website easier to navigate. We would like to expand the number of Town Hall events designed as outreach to parents.  We believe parents should be empowered to have a more active role in defining their children’s educational path.

If elected, Wayne Eastman, Jeff Bennett and I will insist on making data-driven decisions.  Good intentions are wonderful, but they’re not enough.  Our district has gotten into the habit of piloting programs without clear and consistent methods for gauging effectiveness.  We’ve gotten into a worse habit of elevating pilot programs to full implementation without conclusive evidence of their success. 

Going forward, Wayne, Jeff and I are committed to successful implementation of the recently passed proposals.  But again, that success is going to require a Board which leads rather than just “supports,” which requires data and transparency from the district administration, which weighs the costs as well as the benefits of new programs, and which communicates better with parents and with the community. 

On Tuesday, April 17^th, expect more from your Board of Education.  Please come out to vote and cast your ballot for Madhu Pai, Wayne Eastman and Jeff Bennett.  Polls are open from 2-9pm.

Visit www.votesoma2012.com for ideas.  Email madhuppai@gmail.com with thoughts or questions.