My Positions
The 2009 Economic Climate
As we stare down at the challenge of preparing for the next fiscal year, we are all painfully aware that there are tough questions and tough decisions that have to be made. I look forward to working together with members of the School Committee, Board of Selectmen, and the Finance Committee towards bringing another consensus budget to Town Meeting in May 2010. I recognize the difficult choices that many of our fellow citizens of North Andover and of our state have had to make in the face of this unprecedented economic storm. It is my intention to raise the standard of excellence within our district while understanding the financial commitment that our taxpayers have already made - and what they can not afford. I am committed to working towards providing the tools that our teachers need to shape better schools, and funding the necessary training to provide the opportunity to be better teachers, so that we can bring our students up to the next level, enabling them to be better students.
Financial Challenges
Our financial pressure on our town will prove to be the biggest challenge to the North Andover School system. Practical solutions to these daunting challenges will require and unprecedented level of cooperation from all parties. "Doing more with less" has to be more than just a catch phrase. It is unfortunate that we are in the financial situation we are in, but we have to be responsible enough to make the hard decisions and do the best with what we have for the sake of our children's present educational experience and also their future.
2 1/2 Overrides
I stand for practical solutions. We are currently experiencing one of the most unprecedented financial hurricanes in decades. if a tax override is proposed, I would have to evaluate it on its practical merits toward our united goal of providing the highest quality education at the most reasonable cost. It has been my experience to approach any challenge with a comprehensive understanding in order to take decisive action. I have already begun to evaluate this year's budget in order to gain a better perspective of what the future holds. I am studying it, and I'm prepared to ask well researched questions of the right people. Through chairing the school district's Budget and Finance Subcommittee, I am working and continue to work towards a consensus budget and a standard format. I have met with Dr. Hottel and had informative discussions. It was rewarding to discuss the issues facing our schools. We need to learn all we can from the experienced individuals we have employed, gathering all of their knowledge to arrive at practical solutions for the challenges we face. We cannot make a decision that affects the children, parents, teachers and citizens of North Andover without a concerted effort to gather all the facts. Our town leaders need to be actively applying pressure at the state level to ensure North Andover receives its share of financial resources. We still await Stabilization funds from the state. All stakeholders in our community must work together to receive as much funding as possible from this stimulus package. Our children's future is in the balance.
My top priority
The challenge facing our schools is not unlike the same challenges of individual households in our community. Quality and responsibility are key. All parties must commit themselves to the goal of providing quality education. Spending controls and savings must be implemented in all areas of our budget. Cuts must not affect the already efficient areas of our educational services to our students. In a time of unprecedented economic unrest we must have all stakeholders prepared to dispense with the status quo. As a community we must be prepared to cut in non-essential areas of supplies, services and others. Fiscal responsibility was, is, and has always been a practical issue.
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