Health & Fitness
Observations From the Candidate Forum
During the candidate forum last Sunday, I was excited to answer questions and to share my priorities if elected to the School Committee.
During the candidate forum last Sunday, I was excited to answer questions and to share my priorities if elected to the School Committee. The forum, graciously hosted by the Winchester League of Women Voters, was held before a sizable crowd at the Winchester High School. While technical difficulties will prevent broadcasting the forum, I would like to share some of what I discussed.
In supporting the renovation of the high school, I stressed assuring the public every ramification was explained before an override. In supporting full cooperation with the Department of Justice over the civil rights complaint regarding redistricting, I stressed reaching out to those who filed the complaint no matter the outcome of the investigation. In discussing the difficulty in cutting programs if ever needed, I stressed allowing the principals and educators in the field to have a substantial role in prioritizing those decisions. In supporting the increasing the role of technology in the classrooms, I stressed the need for a bottom-up approach where we focus on the infrastructure first.
Notable for its absence from the forum was a discussion of how we could better differentiate the education each student receives, tailoring it to their strengths and weaknesses. I support the judicious use of block-scheduling whereby multiple classes in a given subject (e.g. mathematics) could be scheduled at the same time with students learning in the class that best suits their needs. This simple step could improve the education received by all students.
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Our stances on these issues, and where we differ, are important in this election. But the issues of the day will change from year to year. More important than our stances currently are how we go about taking a stance and how we go about changing a stance. This process, along with our character and our commitment to the town, should be the primary metric by which we are measured.
As an engineer, I believe that we must collect and analyze the data at hand before we can make a sound final decision. And we must remember that a decision is only as strong as the data supporting it. Furthermore, we must always be open to revising positions in light of new or conflicting data.
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As a life-long resident of Winchester, a parent of two young daughters, and the only graduate of Winchester High School on or running for School Committee, I have seen many changes in town. What has never changed is our support for our schools and our children. What is best for the schools and what is best for the town go hand in hand. I will never push an issue unless I believe it is in the best interest of the town and our children, both educationally and financially. The school committee serves all the people in town, not just those with children and not just those who speak loudest or most fervently.
I am committed to the town. I am committed to the schools. And I am committed to being a fair and objective steward of our town's limited resources. On March 26, I humbly ask for your vote so that I can continue the work of keeping our schools and our town strong.
Sincerely,
Brian A. Vernaglia
