OP-ED: Pai, Eastman and Bennett for Board of Ed

I want to share my full support and endorsement of Madhu Pai, Jeffrey Bennett, and Wayne Eastman for the Board of Education. Over the past few months, I have gotten to know all three and have been extremely impressed by their knowledge of the issues, their passion for improving our schools, and their original, fiscally responsible ideas for bringing that vision to fruition. They are running on a broad, positive agenda on issues like focusing on the achievement gap where it begins – in elementary school, addressing the gender achievement gap, increasing high-level classes, providing greater choice, and a much-needed introduction of computer science to our curriculum. These ideas are rooted in budget realities, and the realities of how classrooms function, while having a strong commitment to listening to parents and teachers.

As a parent of a 4th grader in the District, I am deeply committed to the success of our public schools and as a member of the Board of Trustees, I want only the best for our entire community. We need a Board of Education that strives to prepare our kids for the intensely competitive world that we live in by insisting on a rigorous curriculum. We need a Board of Education that will be accessible and responsive to our teachers and parents. We need a Board of Education that is willing and able to perform and understand deep analysis and not simply act as a rubber stamp for the Administration. We need a Board of Education that understands the fiscal realities of our tax stressed community and can come up with creative solutions to providing quality education for our kids while keeping costs down.

Madhu Pai, Wayne Eastman and Jeff Bennett are the best candidates in this race who can bring forth the rigor, independence, analytics and fiscal discipline we need. I urge you to join me in supporting them on April 17 with your vote.

Polls are open from 2pm-9pm.  You can learn much more about the candidates and their platform at http://www.votesoma2012.com/