Vote Medford 2007

Full Text: (Q1) Affordable Housing

People are leaving or bypassing our city because they cannot afford to rent or buy a home here. In addition many Medford seniors are on waiting lists for housing that keep getting longer. What has the city done and what will you do to create more affordable-housing opportunities for working people and seniors in Medford?

Full Text: (Q1) Transparency of Decision-Making

How can the process of decision-making around such issues of redistricting and teacher hiring be made more transparent and open to greater public input?

Arena: (Q1) Affordable Housing

I'm not sure I agree with the premise that people are leaving or bypassing Medford. Medford is a vibrant community and its demographics are changing all the time. If there are some who truly cannot afford to rent or buy a home here, it is my guess that those same people are finding it difficult to rent or buy a home in all or most of the suburban communities of the same size and proximity to Boston as Medford. I would support an amendment to the use regulations of our zoning ordinances to provide affordable housing for low or moderate-income households to ensure that affordable housing is made available on an equal basis to all eligible households.

Attenazio: (Q1) Transparency of Decision-Making

In terms of re-districting, discussions regarding the purpose of it should be discussed openly in SC meetings and provide Open Forums for public input and comment. Regarding hiring of teachers, this is an administrative matter delegated to the Superintendent. Ed Reform laws outline how this administrative matter is be site based and typically managed by building Principals.

The SC can provide some guidance or discussion on how they might like to see that handled, but, technically, this is not in their purview. The purview of the SC is in governance, policy and fiduciary matters.

Full Text: (Q2) Making Medford Safe for Pedestrians & Cyclists

Many people have publicly said that roads, signs, crosswalks and lights in or near Wellington, Station Landing, the I-93 rotary, Medford Square and the intersection of Forest and High create hazardous conditions for motorists and pedestrians. Also, bicycles are becoming a primary green mode of transportation, so other cities such as Cambridge and Somerville are making cycling safer by constructing formal bike paths and creating bike lanes along primary and secondary streets. How can Medford be made a truly safe city for walkers, bikers and motorists, and what will your contribution be?

Full Text: (Q2) Individualized Education for Above-Grade-Level Students

Students with learning disabilities are rightfully issued IEPs (individualized education plans) to optimize their educational experiences within the public school system. Do you believe that students who inherently work above grade level or who show talent in particular fields should receive the equivalent of an IEP so their educational experiences are optimized as well? If you do, please outline what your vision for such a program would be. If you do not, what can be done to challenge these gifted students to prevent the boredom and behavior issues with which they frequently have to contend?

Brady: (Q1) Transparency of Decision-Making

The Medford School Committee conducts all its business at public meetings. Community members are always welcome to address the Committee in open session and in most instances on cable television. Individuals are always free to call members with their concerns on any issue. I get back to everyone who calls me and I refer issues to the appropriate administrators for resolution. The Educational Reform Act of 1993 determined that most hiring is the responsibility of the principals, department heads and the superintendent. The School Committee votes for a few positions upon the recommendation of the Superintendent. The School Committee does work with the Superintendent to conduct open public interviews for major administrative positions. This past year, for example, public interviews were conducted for the Principalship of the Andrews Middle School and the Directorship of the Pupil Services Department. Prior to School Committee involvement there were broadly represented advisory committees that screened and prioritized the candidates. The School Committee holds the Superintendent and his staff accountable for the hiring process. We want them to find high quality people that meet state standards. The School Committee is like a Board of Directors of a large corporation. We delegate administrative tasks and evaluate the outcomes. We encourage our administration to be inclusive and to seek participation. However, we do not micromanage. This year the school system hired over seventy people. We received information on them and expect that the administration will supervise and evaluate them consistent with best practices.

There has only been one redistricting decision made by the Administration and the School Committee since the advent of the new schools. The decision was made in public and was done to alleviate projected overcrowding at one school and under-enrollment at another. Individuals already attending a school were grandfathered into the school and sibling preference was maintained. Change is not easy for everybody and some people felt that the decision was unfair. School Committee members must be prepared to make unpopular decisions from time to time for the best interests of the entire community. We strive to listen to all points of view, but ultimately must make a decision.

When the new schools were being built we listened very closely to people all over the city and held many forums. Eventually, district lines had to be drawn and they have worked out well for most people. All our decisions were made after listening and in public.

Burke: (Q1) Affordable Housing

As part of the re-use of our schools, we have incorporated an affordability component to each sale. Also, the Rivers Edge project, through Medford's Home funds, will provide affordable housing units. We are also investigating "Inclusionary Housing" ordinance to ensure that all future development will include a set affordability component.

Arena: (Q2) Making Medford Safe for Pedestrians & Cyclists

There is no question that the infrastructure at Wellington Circle is in need of a major infusion of capital investment. More than 25 years ago then Governor Edward King came to Medford and expressed support for a redesign of Wellington Circle. Since then, not much has changed except the volume of traffic has increased dramatically. Only major changes in the configuration of the several roads intersecting at Wellington, such as an over or under pass, could we ever hope to safely accommodate the ever increasing volume of vehicular traffic here, with safer walking and biking through the area as natural byproducts. Medford's streets and roadways were constructed many years ago, and major changes are unrealistic. If an affordable engineering proposal could introduce safe walking and biking through our city, it would win my support provided such a plan would not complicate existing heavy traffic zones.

Attenazio: (Q2) Individualized Education for Above-Grade-Level Students

First, students with LD or any other disability are not issued IEP’s to optimize their ed experiences, but to address those obstacles or disabilities that impede their ability to access the general curriculum and be able to learn the same subjects as their peers. This process is governed by law only for those students assessed and determined to have a disability. The laws in special education are designed to “level the playing field” for students with disabilities, not to give something extra for them to get ahead or have some advantage over any other student.

Secondly, there is nothing that would prohibit a district from developing education plans for any and all students, but that typically is the coursework or the general curriculum the district provides to meet the DOE Curriculum Frameworks.