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The School Committee confronts a number of challenges.
Fiscal Uncertainty. I bring six years of experience balancing school budgets while maintaining programs to support all learners. As we develop future budgets, I will fight to protect the programs developed over the last several years, work to keep class sizes low, and continue to lobby for fair funding for our public schools.
Leadership. The School Committee will determine who will be the district's Superintendent going forward. I was on the Committee during the last search, have worked with three Superintendents, and bring perspective and experience to this process.
21st Century Learning. We must continue the 21st century initiatives that began a few years ago by focusing on higher order thinking skills, providing more mathematics, science and engineering opportunities to our students, creating greater emphasis on second language skills, and continuing efforts to provide students with travel and other opportunities to know other cultures.
Special Education. The district has to meet its legal and moral mandates to children in special education programs and at the same time contain costs. We must bring more out-of-district placements in-district and offer better professional development in special education for regular education teachers.
Space. For the past four years, the kindergarten enrollment has been greater than 400 students, the Ottoson Middle School is at capacity, and most of our elementary schools are full. The School Committee is obligated to finish the job of rebuilding all seven elementary schools, and the Committee will decide what to do with two facilities currently used by private schools. The school district must carefully calculate its long term needs, listen to constituents, and ensure that there is sufficient, quality learning space for all of Arlington's students.
These are some of the priorities I see, but I want to hear from you in order to represent the community thoughtfully if I am fortunate enough to be re-elected
Please email me your thoughts, ideas and concerns (jthielman@rcn.com). I'm happy to meet at anytime to talk about issues you're interested in.
Please help our campaign with an online contribution!
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