For School Committee, in an unusual step the PAX Board overwhelming voted to make no endorsements of the three incumbent members running (uncontested) for re-election. All were previously endorsed by PAX, and we appreciate their service to both the Schools and the Town, especially their hard work for last year’s override. And we emphasize that our decision is not a reflection on these particular candidates.
But Board members have had various concerns about School Committee issues in recent years—overall, a general sense that it has insufficiently listened to sincere and thoughtful parents and citizens, and to Brookline educators, on a number of progressive priorities. Since the Education Reform Act of 1988 we have watched with increasing concern as the School Committee has listened more intently to the recommendations of a persistently transient school administration and less to those of the community and the system’s highly regarded and experienced educators.
As a result, the School Committee has moved consistently in the direction of data-driven studies and practices seeking quantifiable results. The broad range of programs and tests they have prioritized has ended up consuming inordinate amounts of teacher administrative time, and bringing about correspondingly less direct engagement with individual students, as well as sinking staff morale.
Our discussion and vote was especially due to recent, growing, and severe community frustration with the School Committee for failing to resolve negotiations with the Brookline Educators Union, and a perception that it has not taken seriously enough the union’s proposals concerning scheduling, workload, and enabling educators to address the unique needs of each child.
We urge the School Committee to resolve this impasse soon and, in Brookline’s finest traditions, to maximize fair and educationally sound working and learning conditions meeting the needs of all students, parents and educators. Although this won’t resolve the broader issues, it will be a start.
The PAX Board in its 54 years has taken endorsements (currently about 90 of them a year) very seriously. Our process is based on a lengthy questionnaire, the public records and votes of the candidates, and the personal knowledge of our board members.
Frank Farlow & Marty Rosenthal
Co-chairs, Brookline PAX
