| Candidate Statement: My
name is Barb Fletcher and I have been a member of
the Wayland School Committee for the last three
years. I am running for re-election because I am
dedicated to Wayland, to its children and to
continuing to provide a high quality school system.
My husband and I have lived in Wayland for the past
15 years and have four children in the public
schools, one at the High School, one at the Middle
School and two at the Claypit Hill School.
Three years ago I ran for the School Committee
because I believed that with the skills I have
developed through my education, professional and
volunteer experience I would be a valued member of
this Committee. I believe this still to be true,
and now more than ever, I feel that with my
experience on the School Committee I can continue to
serve Wayland well.
I
am currently the Assistant Business Manager of the
Epiphany School, a tuition-free middle school for
economically disadvantaged families from Boston
neighborhoods. I previously have worked for 12
years in the fields of finance and marketing with
Morgan Stanley and Fidelity Investments. I have an
MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth and a BA from
Princeton. I have also held many volunteer
positions within the Wayland school community,
including 3 years on the Middle School and Claypit
Hill PTO boards, as well as several administrative
search committees. My strong analytical, financial
and communication skills have contributed to my
experience as a member of the School Committee, and
I view myself as a consensus builder and practical
problem solver.
Wayland, like so many other communities, faces a
very challenging time given rising costs, the
current economic climate and the increasing federal
and state mandated educational standards. Since
I’ve been on the School Committee, we have had to
make certain difficult educational and financial
decisions. I believe that these decisions represent
a balance between providing a high-quality
educational program that the community expects and
respecting the fiscal constraints facing the town
and its residents. I have applied my skill set to
each decision, by asking thoughtful questions,
analyzing data, seeking appropriate input and
communicating the decision-making process and the
ultimate decision to the community. I feel that by
contributing in this way I have been an effective
member of the School Committee, advocating for the
schools in a fiscally responsible way.
Certain of the key issues facing the schools and the
town include passing a successful override,
transitioning to a 2 ˝ elementary school
configuration, and working with the state to find a
solution for the High School facility that is
supported by the town. The passage of the override
protects not only the services needed for our
schools but also the services deserved by all
Wayland residents. The move to a 2 ˝ school model
maintains our educational program during a period of
declining enrollment. Given that this
reconfiguration would have taken place the following
year, it was especially important to make this move
in light of the override and the fiscal constraints
of the entire town. There is also a real need to
improve the high school facility. By working closely
with the Massachusetts School Building Authority to
secure state funding and with the community,
together we can define a plan that can be supported
by Wayland residents. I believe all of these
initiatives are critical to providing the
educational opportunities offered to our children
and require the entire community’s support. As
such, the School Committee must consider and value
the needs of all the residents of Wayland.
I
would be honored to serve Wayland for another three
years as a member of the School Committee and would
appreciate your vote on Tuesday, April 8th. I am
always interested in hearing your thoughts and
suggestions, so please feel free to contact me.
Thank you. |
