Vote Medford 2007

D'aveta: (Q1) Transparency of Decision-Making

Citizens, and especially parents should be notified of teacher hiring by placing the ads for new hires on the web for all to see. Site councils should be actively encouraged to be part of the process.

For any future process of redistricting, parents should be notified by backpack note, notices on the school and city web sites and government cable access channels. This is not a process that should occur by fiat or by candlelight. This process should be done with openness, fairness and accountability to the affected students, parents and community at large and in cooperation with the school department. It is also important to include teachers for informational purposes, for it is they who will be the front line of any redistricted student population

D'aveta: (Q2) Individualized Education for Above-Grade-Level Students

I advocate fair treatment for all students, no matter their learning ability. Gifted students should be treated no differently than other students. However, the schools should take stock of what these students desire and are eager to learn and what they are not receiving in the current system. In terms of implementing an IEP solely for gifted students, I would have to study this more to ascertain whether the school system can sustain such an endeavor.

I have been told of students leaving the school system because they are disinterested and feel they can get a superior education elsewhere. This should not be the case. Just as we would never abandon students with learning disabilities, we should not overlook the simple fact that still other students need the support of creative and innovative programs to nurture their intellect. It should be embarrassing to us as a community to have our students leave the Medford public schools because they feel as if there is nothing left to learn here. Shame on us if we allow this to occur.

D'aveta: (Q3) School Choice with Uniform Quality in Elementary Schools

Medford may do well by reviewing what the students themselves think about the education in the particular schools. I have always been a proponent of including students in any process that will affect their education and their daily routine. Although themes in may be in place for each school, it is important to keep the theme fresh and interesting for the student and to reexamine or review it periodically.

D'aveta: (Q4) Overcoming Financial Constraints

There has been successful interaction with Tufts University and the Peace Games and Medford; I see no reason why more collaboration with other area universities should not occur. Nevertheless, I do not believe in creating ties with private institutions that would circumvent the role of a municipality to provide the best education possible to its student residents through the normal budgetary process. Private partnerships can play an important role but they should in no way usurp our responsibilities as responsible citizens that support our students. I do believe that there could be a good deal of positive programming through universities and student teaching involvement.

D'aveta: (Q5) Expansion of After-School Programs for All Students

After-school programs are very important and I was a beneficiary of just such programming as a student. On the other hand, I believe unless we decide to fund the programs through extra-budgetary means, it should not compromise the fiscal responsibility we all share in providing a top-notch education during the regular school day.

D'aveta: (Q6) Arts Education: Funding, Staffing, Quality, Diversity

Art funding is a perennial topic of debate and I, for one, believe that we cannot expose our students to too much art, just as we cannot expose them to too much in the area of mathematics or ELA. However, there seems to be a gap in how art is taught across the different schools and to the extent that it does not impinge on the stated mission of a particular school (and it should not, in practice) it should be fairly applied across the district and the curriculum.

D'aveta: (Q7) Fostering a Hate-Free, Supportive Environment

This is an issue that strikes a particular chord with me. As our society becomes more tolerant along racial lines, we are also becoming more intolerant of differences in socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and religion. It is important to educate students at a young age that intolerance and prejudicial feelings surrounding any differences among students are not only wrong at their core, but are circular in nature and can do damage also to the child who holds that prejudice.

Programs that are bias-free and educate on diversity issues should be standardized and consistent within the district. Positive role models in different fields and of different backgrounds are also exceedingly important and should be invited to speak with students during special assemblies or, in addition, during regular class time set aside for such purposes.

D'aveta: (Q8) Leadership to Improve Quality of Education

It has been widely stated by school department officials that the rate of public school attendance increased citywide at the point when all of the new elementary schools were on line. Yet, I wonder about the rate of departure for students who reach the ninth grade and decide that Medford High is not the place they want to attend, for a variety of reasons. As a school committee member, I plan to investigate the reasons for this and what can be done to prevent our students from abandoning the public schools at such a critical time in their educational lives.

D'aveta: (Q9) Green Initiatives

The City of Medford has been forward thinking when it comes to ecologically sound initiatives, but I would like to see more planned and more accomplished. For example, do the roofs of the schools incorporate simple technology like green roofs to reduce wasted heat and cooling capacity? Is there funding beyond the wind turbine for PV cell arrays? And how can merely opening and closing school windows at certain times of the day benefit the students and save on utility costs at the same time?

D'aveta: (Q10) Nutrition and Activity Against Obesity

Physical activity is key to fighting obesity. To that extent, Medford has a good level of involvement in team sports. But for those who choose not to participate in a team sport, other options should be available, such as activities on the school grounds prior to and after the regular class day, where teachers or PE staff would be available to consult and answer questions on regulated physical fitness activities undertaken by the student.

Medford may also want to take advantage of grants available to fight childhood obesity; the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has been offering grants for just such a purpose.