Tim's Priorities
Improving learning conditions for students involves reducing class sizes, providing adequate resources, creating safe and supportive environments, offering professional development for teachers, promoting equity and inclusion, ensuring adequate facilities, expanding access to enrichment opportunities, supporting special needs students, involving families and communities, and implementing regular assessment and feedback practices.
Our community values a comprehensive curriculum that provides students with a diverse array of course options. Yet, there’s a pressing need to bolster our hands-on learning opportunities. If entrusted with the role, I’m committed to proactively seeking avenues both within and outside of our budget to enrich these courses. For instance, I’ll explore avenues like accessing federal Perkins funds, earmarked specifically for vocational education.
Mounting a multisystemic initiative to advocate for full funding of DESE mandates is crucial for several reasons:
Ensuring Equitable Resources: Full funding of DESE mandates is essential to providing equitable resources and support for all students, regardless of their background or location. This ensures that every child has access to a quality education that meets their needs.
Supporting Student Success: Proper funding allows schools to implement DESE mandates effectively, including programs and initiatives aimed at improving student achievement, supporting special education services, and promoting student well-being.
Meeting Legal Obligations: The state legislature has a legal obligation to provide adequate funding for as outlined in state laws and constitutional provisions. Organizing efforts to hold legislators accountable for fulfilling this obligation is essential to uphold the rights of students and educators.
Addressing Systemic Challenges: Underfunding of DESE mandates can exacerbate existing disparities and challenges within the education system, such as inequitable access to resources, overcrowded classrooms, and limited support for marginalized communities. By advocating for full funding, we can address these systemic issues and work towards a more equitable and inclusive education system.
Building Strong Communities: Investing in education benefits not only individual students but also strengthens communities and the economy as a whole. Fully funded DESE mandates contribute to the development of a skilled workforce, attract businesses to the area, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents.
By organizing a multisystemic effort to advocate for full funding of DESE mandates, we can ensure that every student receives the support and resources they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. This initiative is essential for creating a more equitable, just, and prosperous future for all members of our society.
Issues Facing Residents
As a member of the school committee, I’ll prioritize mental health by advocating for increased access to counseling services, implementing mental health education programs, and supporting staff training on mental health awareness. Additionally, I’ll collaborate with community partners such as local mental health agencies and nonprofits to provide additional resources and support for students’ mental well-being.
The overcrowding issue at Wilbraham Middle School demands immediate attention, yet it’s entangled in complexity. While immediate solutions like portable classrooms or adjusted schedules are viable, we also need to consider long-term strategies such as building expansions or redistricting. However, a significant obstacle lies in our current regional agreement. Amending it necessitates buy-in from both Hampden and Wilbraham.
Recognizing the fracture in the towns’ relationship due to the closure of TWB, repairing this rift and restoring trust in the school committee is paramount to updating the regional agreement. My background as a community organizer and union president uniquely equips me to navigate this delicate situation. I’m committed to brokering a deal that acknowledges the emotions and needs of each town, ensuring a successful outcome for both parties.
Having spoken with families, I recognize the transportation challenges they encounter getting their children to and from school. In regional school districts, transportation costs are notably higher, prompting the state to incentivize regionalization with additional funding to offset busing expenses. However, the state has fallen short of fulfilling this promise for years. If elected, I’m committed to leveraging my community organizing experience to rally a multi-systemic approach. Together, we’ll hold the state legislature accountable, ensuring they provide the necessary resources to effectively address the busing issue.