This past Tuesday I ran and won as a write-in candidate for Ward 4 School Committee. I thank the people who helped me run such a successful campaign in less than two weeks, the voters of the ward who participated in the process and most of all - Charlene Harris. I spoke with Charlene on Friday morning and we pledged to work closely together on the issues that face Ward 4 and the School Committee as a whole. Charlene has been a wonderful volunteer at the Healey School and I personally know her to be a kind and giving person who always puts her best effort forward for the school system.
The Somerville Journal endorsed my candidacy the week before the election, but decided to characterize my candidacy in both print and online as if I am unable to provide any answers as to what is going on in the Healey or WHCS and with the school system/School Committee in general. Nothing could be further from the truth, as a former member of the School Committee, I am keenly aware of the issues that the School Committee has faced, is facing now and will be facing in the future - such as:
1. improvement of MCAS scores and debate on how to foster improvement with the present system (and debate ways to improve the educations system through curriculum enhancements and lower student/teacher ratios)
2. focus on the basics of the education system, while being able to service a seemingly ever growing foreign-born student populus
3. working closely with the Superintendent and the DPW to ensure that our schools are a safe and warm environment for our students to learn in
4. explore and debate, in an inclusive environment, ways to enhance the school day through extended hours options, after-school initiatives and more community involvement in areas such as the arts, music and athletic programs
There are many more issues to be dealt with and ideas that need to be developed and debated, including the possibility of opening up serious debate about the feasibility of changing the School Committee from an elected body to an appointed body, using the City of Boston conversion as a baseline - and analyzing whether it would work for this city as it has in Boston - there are many misconceptions about an appointed School Committee, which need to be defined, explained and debated. This type of change can only be brought about by amending the city charter, which is a difficult process to begin with - so I look forward to bringing the debate forward and working with other elected officials, the administration and the residents of Ward 4 and the city as a whole toward that end.
Other elected officials in this city have their websites as an election vehicle - I plan on keeping this site as my vehicle to present ideas and open up discussion and dialog about school issues in Ward 4 and across the city in an open and honest format for anyone who wishes to join in.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent Ward 4 on the School Committee.
Jamie Norton
8 Howe Street
Comments