I hope the entire town will join me in thanking Sue Sheffler for her six years of extraordinary service as a member of our School Committee. She brought a critical view to the table, the sharp eye of a Harvard MBA and the willingness to slay sacred cows instead of making easy budget cuts that hurt kids. The schools are a better place due to Sue Sheffler's service.

Sue’s departure underscores the urgency of re-electing Jeff Thielman to the School Committee. Arlington simply cannot afford to have an interim superintendent and a School Committee comprised entirely of first-term members. We can’t afford to have a School Committee where nobody has more than two years of experience. Unfortunately, that’s exactly the situation we will face if we fail to re-elect Jeff.

Jeff Thielman is an attorney by training, but he used his talents and skills in his role as executive director of the Cassin Educational Initiative Foundation to establish 22 Cristo Rey high schools and 40 Nativity Miguel middle schools in impoverished urban communities around the nation. He is now serving as vice president of New Initiatives of the Cristo Rey Network, overseeing the start-up of these highly regarded schools for at-risk youth. He has a strong commitment to doing the right thing for children, and brings valuable experience to the School Committee.

Cindy Starks would serve as a knowledgeable and thoughtful addition to the team. Cindy has a degree in electrical engineering and a background in high-tech. She has been a tireless volunteer for children in our community, and she developed a passion for public education. This passion led Cindy to earn a masters degree in education, along with credentials to teach middle school mathematics. Cindy has the skills to be open and inclusive, and she will bring a reasoned and positive approach to this important work.

As we look toward a future that contains some immense challenges for our schools, we need strong and steady leaders like Jeff Thielman and Cindy Starks. I urge everyone to support them in the town election, Saturday, April 4.