Vote Medford 2007

D'aveta: (Q11) Three Ideas to Enhance Community & Parental Involvement

Equality across all schools is of great import and no student should be asked to make do with less based solely upon the school he or she attends. However, this question requires a great deal more research than a parent or an interested and active community person can impart without an involved study of all three schools, including interviews of teachers, students, parents and administrators from each of the three schools. I am willing to devote the time to such an investigation as a school committee member to resolve issues of inequality and the perception or misperception that students from one school are receiving an inferior education or treatment not befitting the Medford Public School System.

D'aveta: (Q12) Three Changes To Improve District's Hiring Practices

Teachers entering the school system here and elsewhere are often arriving from backgrounds in other fields having made a mid-career decision to teach. Medford will need to keep pace with market rate salaries to attract these professionals as well as those teachers seeking their first job after university. In all cases, Medford should employ best hiring practices to ensure the highest level of commitment to these new teachers as well as those currently on staff. As classrooms become more complex and parents and administrators make more and more demands on a teacher's time, adequate classroom assistance should be included to help all new staff and, in a perfect world, should be spread out among the school so that the whole faculty may take advantage of another adult presence in the classroom. Teaching is an art and a skill; teachers need the school administration to support them in a positive way from the outset.

D'aveta: (Q13) Recognizing Religious Holidays Fairly

I am a very strong believer in the separation of religion and government. Religious holidays should be recognized to the extent feasible for a given school year calendar. New Jersey has a list of recognized holidays that number near eighty days per school year. Given that MA law mandates a 180 school day calendar, one could easily see the potential conundrum. Granted, not every student would be able to claim all holidays, but the situation could arise where students have parents of multiple religious backgrounds, thereby meaning multiple days absent from school. I support a student's right to choose to celebrate their religious holidays with family and friends, but limiting the number of holidays from which a student could be absent from school may be the solution.

D'aveta: (Q14) Strategies Against Classroom Overcrowding

I think Medford is doing well with class size currently. I do worry about a potential baby boom and what that could mean to school class size and to the school budget. Planning for this possibility should take place in the near future.

D'aveta: (Q15) Special Education: Strengthening IEP Teams & Improving Dispute Resolution

I want to work very closely with parents of special education students to devise a plan that works for them. I trust parents to make the most sensible and informed recommendations to the school committee and to the administration to effect changes in the IEP process and the dispute resolution system as it currently exists. I have heard a wide range of opinions on this subject from a forum of the special education parents advisory council and from others who have children in special education programs.