Letter: Not Embarrassed to Care

What I believe we need as a community right now is graciousness and leaders that are courageous enough to weigh all of the information available and make decisions with clarity of purpose.  

As a School Committee Member, I strive to have the courage to help fulfill our educational mission with or without outside support or acknowledgement.

I strive to listen with kindness, but the strength to at times disagree and make decisions with students and teachers first and foremost my priority.

Ms. McCarthy, I respect your passion and service as an advocate for your neighborhood.  I always favor anger to indifference.  However, I take exception to your choice to share your criticisms publicly before approaching me for clarity.   

In regard to your criticisms, there was a context to the conversation on Tuesday evening.  My remarks were taken out of that context, and the intentions of my comments were misrepresented in your letter.

Last night was the first opportunity for the School Committee to hear of the technical issues regarding the four homes at Washington Street.  It was not the first time “I” had been made aware of the concern. It was the first time “we” as a School Committee had learned of this detail as a policy body. 

As we move forward, I ask you and all of our neighbors to care about how we are doing our jobs with Winchester schools.  Keep driving us forward to ensure all of our schools are exceptional and all of our students successful.  I’m not embarrassed to care, and I’m glad you aren’t either.    

-- Cindy Bohne

School Committee Member