Vote Medford 2007

Cugno: (Q1) Transparency of Decision-Making

I believe that redistricting and teacher hiring can be made more transparent and open to a greater public input by forming sub-committees and surveys distributed throughout the schools. Even though sometimes we do not have enough time in the day for more committees I believe in certain cases it is highly important to take in consideration the viewpoints of parents. We also need to have a balance of letting our administrators have the liberty of hiring. The DOE states the hiring process belongs primarily to the Superintendent and the Principals. However, we have taken steps implementing change. A good example of this was having sub-committees with parents, administrators and teachers in the hiring process of Beverly Shea, our Director of Pupil Services, and Tim Blake, our Principal to the Andrews Middle School.

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

I do not believe that we need to go to the extreme of IEP’s for the gifted and talented students. The last thing we would want to do is give teachers more forms to fill out rather than utilizing their time in teaching. Our school system has been lucky enough to be awarded the Javits Grant which is to train teachers K-8 in teaching gifted students. As the teachers have been trained they are now expanding their training and knowledge to their colleagues. Medford High School is ranked as the highest high school in offering the most AP courses in the country and the amount of students that have taken advantage of those courses are surpassing our expectations in the tests each year.

Cugno: (Q3) School Choice with Uniform Quality in Elementary Schools

As far as ensuring that the quality of education is uniformed all schools must abide by the academic curriculum mandated by the district and the Department of Education. We as a school system need to provide an impartial balance within all the schools, parents and students of our district.

Cugno: (Q4) Overcoming Financial Constraints

No, I do not believe that our future local financial resources are going to be enough to provide everyone in our public schools with a high quality education if the state continues on mandating more and giving us less funding. In the last two years the state has removed the local aid to the City of Medford by $1,500,000.00. Some examples that I have been working on to improve our financial situation is educating our parents and students that our voices are important and will be heard. Working with the Stand for Children organization for the last two years organizing forums and attending their annual rally at the State House to unite with other cities to let our legislators know that our children’s education is important. Advising our administrators continuing investigating more opportunities in state grants. Continue on utilizing our nearby universities such as Tuft’s University as we are doing in working in partnership and piloting programs, such as the Peace Game’s for our 4th and 5th graders throughout the city.

Cugno: (Q5) Expansion of After-School Programs for All Students

What I have done personally for the expansion for after-school programs is to implement The Medford Summer Time Program with City Counselor Breanna Lungo and McGlynn School teacher, George Scarpelli. It incorporates students of 5 to 18 years of age. The program was very successful this summer that we are now in the process of working to expand the program for after school and school vacations. With that said, the school system is diligently providing after school programs presently at the Roberts, McGlynn and Columbus Elementary Schools. We are also working with Graceworks, Bright Stars, and the Boys and Girls Club. Not to mention, how hard the PTO’s are working in their individual schools in providing their own after-school programs.

Cugno: (Q6) Arts Education: Funding, Staffing, Quality, Diversity

First, I would like to state that I do believe in a well rounded student. With four children of my own I could honestly say that education and sports are important to them but they have also been very fortunate to incorporate the arts in their lives. Though we would like to staff and fund more, we have been very lucky in the sense that we have not cut any of our arts programs and have been able to still provide art, music, and drama. Unfortunately, that is something some of our nearby communities have not been able to state. A way that I have seen diversity across the school system is seeing some of the schools take the initiative by putting on their own plays, musicals, and talent shows. It is a great way for the students to come together. Whether they participate on stage or behind the scenes, it is a pleasure to see students work on a project that under normal circumstances you would not see. Another positive is the partnership we have with Tuft’s University. Their generosity the last few years is providing our elementary schools with field trips for our students so they may attend their orchestra production. One aspect that made my decision in sending my first son to Medford High School was how the sports program does support our arts. With that said I am in the process in working with the athletic department, arts department and headmaster in bringing both departments even closer.

Cugno: (Q7) Fostering a Hate-Free, Supportive Environment

Our school system is providing programs such as Second Step, for grades K-8, and Peer Mediation for grades 9-12 in fostering the respect of differences and diversity. What I have done as a school committee member is work together with the Citywide PTO in hosting a forum with former Senator Jarrett Barrios in speaking about the bullying issues and what we could do. I have also brought the Senator together with Representative Donato to co-sign a Bullying Bill. The idea of the bill is not to give our teachers more to do, but to have a law to state that the bullying will be looked upon the same throughout the commonwealth. Unfortunately, there are circumstances were the victim is the one to move or reschedule their class; this bill is to say, No! It is time for the bully to pay for their action and not the victim! I have also worked with the Citywide PTO and Tuft’s University in piloting a Peace Game Program for students in the 4th and 5th grades throughout our public school system. I have recently participated in the Bullying Forum hosted by Representative Donato at the City Hall Chambers to spread awareness of this issue to parents, students and the public at large.

Cugno: (Q8) Leadership to Improve Quality of Education

I believe that the quality of education in the city of Medford is good, but good does not mean we should accept the level of education and not try to achieve better. No matter how well we believe our education level is the room for improving should always be our next goal. Unlike, some of our communities Medford has many parochial schools in our city and parents have the opportunity of choice. Most of the time the decision is based on religion, however our public school numbers are increasing and the students are transferring into our school system. In observing our school ranking we need to dissect the information. When looking at our MCAS scores we need to know what we are comparing. Some communities do not have the same challenges as we do. For instance, let’s look at children that transfer into our system that do not speak English they still have to take the test. The amount of children that are on IEP’s which might not be the same as other districts. When comparing these statistics we need to know what we are comparing. Are we comparing apples to apples or apples to oranges? The role I am prepared to take and have taken is to investigate our options. I’ve taken the initiative to speak and be willing to assist Representative Carl Sciortino who is working on the reforming of the MCAS test.

Cugno: (Q9) Green Initiatives

Though the word is out that the City of Medford is in the process of promoting Green. We, the public school system are making changes in going Green. For instance, the recycling of our paper in our schools is just one of many. The wind turbine that is being built at the McGlynn is another. Not only is the turbine going to reduce our cost in electricity at the McGlynn it is also going to be incorporated as part of our students curriculum in all of our schools in educating them on the importance of using other methods of electricity. Other ways that we are working on improving our greening initiatives is by utilizing our web-sites and telephone services as part of getting information out to our parents, using less paper. I have already started speaking to the Superintendent and would be happy to work with the rest of the school committee, parents, companies, the Department of Recycling and the Department of Energy and Environment in working on a two year phase into bio-degradable paper products in our cafeterias such as the Styrofoam and using a re-usable purchasing system for buying lunch and/or milk instead of tickets.

Cugno: (Q10) Nutrition and Activity Against Obesity

The school system is already working on the problem of obesity in our community. The way we are going about is by having various programs being implemented in our schools. Starting with the walking clubs that many of our schools have initiated either by a principal, teacher or nurse of that school and the wonderful part is the program has not only incorporated the students but also the parents. We have eliminated certain foods from the vending machines and the lunch program. Teachers are speaking to their students more and more on the importance of nutrition and the consequences of what over eating of certain foods will cause. We the school committee along with the Superintendent have been promoting the Whole Child and the Homefront initiative. We have a had a sub-committee set up, which I was happy to be part of, and it was comprised of administrators, teachers, parents, doctors, and nurses to bring together ideas to implement beneficial steps towards better health options. What I have done in promoting health in our city is work along side City Counselor, Breanna Lungo and Kristin Howell, a 4th grade teacher from the Brooks school, in having our first Medford Fit for Life 5K Walk that was in honor of Officer Patrick Fahey. The walk was to promote a community day for fitness to anyone that wanted to participate. It not only promoted awareness in our health, brought us closer together as a community, but it also raised enough money to provide for sixteen scholarships for all of the elementary schools in our city towards the Medford Summer Time Program.