I have a background working in Higher Education, in the IT field. My experiences span the gap of working in a Financial Aid Office to managing software developers creating software applications that enable more efficient business processes. My wife and I moved to Sutton in 2012 to be close to her parents and because of the great school systems and, at least at the time, affordable housing single family housing. I have a son involved in the Millbury Sutton Raiders and helped them out on the sidelines last season.
I’ve had the incredible privilege of being able to volunteer on the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals. On the ZBA I’ve been able to gain a great understanding about how town boards work – and make an impact helping Sutton grow while also being responsible and maintaining our rural characteristics.
I have two children currently in the Sutton Public Schools; one in high school and another in the 7th grade. We have a good relationship with the schools and encourage open communication with teachers and administration. We’ve really enjoyed the quality of education and the opportunities our kids have ben exposed to.
I’m concerned with the budget situation, not just this year but over the long haul. The school is the largest budget item in the town and it is important that we are focusing these taxpayer funds effeciently and effectively. We need to use our limited resources to bolster our core subjects like English, Science, and Math; strengthening and equipping our kids to compete and get into college.
We also need to understand and address the enrollment decline from Middle School to High School. Answering questions like:
“Why do students leave the district in 8th grade and don’t enroll in 9th?” or
“Do you intend to return and enroll in the school system next year?”
Will help us utilize our limited resources to better plan and offer courses in addition to being better stewards of taxpayer funds.
I’m also concerned about curriculum. How and what are we leveraging to teach our kids critical skills like writing, reading and math skills. Is this curriculum working?
Given our decline in MCAS scores, I have some concerns on that front. We need to be teaching kids how to learn, encouraging an atmosphere that values everyone’s opinion and encourages respectful debates; because this is how people learn best
See my responses above (#3); in short –
a. We need to get a handle on our enrollment because it affects our budget and the way we plan for offerings and the academic year.
b. We need to make sure our curriculum reflects our values and enables our kids to succeed and equips them to either go to college or enter the workforce.
c. We need to bring common sense and fiscal responsibility to our budget, scrutinizing where every dollar is spent being accountable to the taxpayers.
Great question. I believe Sutton places a high value on at least three things: 1. It’s rural character, 2. A strong educational system, and 3. Community engagement. Our schools can help foster these values in a couple of ways.
According to the 2018–2022 American Community Survey, approximately 47% of Sutton residents aged 25 and older have attained a bachelor’s degree or higher. The percentage is likely higher now. Our schools can aide in this trend by focusing on core curriculum like English, Science, and Mathematics. Improving the districts scores on tests like the MCAS will continue to boost our reputation as a community that places a high mark on educational achievement.
Our Schools can further partner with the community via internships, and community service opportunities. Doing this not only invites the town into our schools but also fosters school engagement with the community. Our school doesn’t exist in a vacuum and providing these opportunities fosters and grows the connection with our community.
As a town we also place a high value on our rural character – we have beautiful farmland and open spaces like Lakes Singletary and Manchaug. This is to say that Sutton and its Schools needs to manage growth responsibly, stewarding its budget and managing the town’s taxpayer resources transparently and responsibly. Doing this properly allows us to not only grow responsibly but also to align with our rural character.
This is correct, I didn’t. School’s are for everyone whether you’re liberal or conservative. I believe in a marketplace of ideas where the best ideas based on the best reasoning should rise to the top. We need common sense in our schools now more than ever. Similarly the school committee needs representation from all perspectives democrat, republican, independent. As a member of the school committee I will represent everyone’s interests. However since this is a question I get frequently – I am a registered republican.