To the editor:
I was elected to the Lynnfield School Committee last year. Soon after, I was appointed to vice chair, as well as both the budget subcommittee and the policy subcommittee. In this past year, we have made remarkable progress in moving our district forward with a focus on student achievement through policy reform, newly established methods of communication, staff retention, and curriculum review. We’ve given a voice back to the teachers, and shifted focus to generating positive student outcomes. The work I committed to has only just begun, and I am running for re-election to continue to push forward and elevate our district.
The Role of the School Committee
You’ll often hear that the role of the School Committee is to write & review policy, employ the superintendent, and manage the school budget. We also negotiate the teachers’ collective bargaining agreement. I have played an active role in each of these.
As a concerned parent, I attended School Committee meetings two years ago while advocating for smaller class sizes, a topic that had been overlooked by the (now former) administration. As I continued to attend meetings, often sitting alone in an empty audience, I discovered there was no appetite for policy review. As a member of the policy subcommittee, I changed this process to improve collaboration with all stakeholders and offer greater transparency to the process. Now, plans for upcoming policy reviews are announced in advance to increase time for input from the community. Further, draft policies are now posted publicly and linked to our meeting agendas for review prior to our committee’s discussion. Through this change, we are able to collect more data and feedback as we work collectively to make impactful changes.
When I joined the committee, I quickly spearheaded overdue changes to key policies including class size, dress code, and a first-of-its-kind cell phone policy. These were undertaken at the behest of teachers and principals after being identified as needed changes to support a better school culture and to remove distractions from the classroom. Our cell phone policy was a trailblazer in the state, and legislation is now being supported statewide in this direction. This type of forward-thinking leadership is what I envision and push for within the Lynnfield Public Schools.
A Focus on Teaching and Learning
At this time last year, our schools and school culture were reeling in the wake of Kristen Vogel’s departure. Today, they are once again healthy and thriving and that is thanks in large part to the hard work of Superintendent Tom Geary. I have supported his leadership because we both believe our job is to focus on what truly matters: teaching and learning. We have held our district’s leadership accountable to our high academic standards through curriculum presentations, and a mid-year assessment of our Superintendent’s goals to track his progress. With a new curriculum selection underway this year, the teachers once again have a voice in the process.
As part of the interview team for the new director of student services, I believe we’ve made a key hire that will return stability to our district in this incredibly important role. Under prior leadership, many great educators walked out the door due to poor culture and low morale. Today, all key positions have been filled and retained. Our teachers are empowered and our schools are thriving.
Enhanced Collaboration and Communication
As vice chair of the School Committee, I helped organize and commence School Committee coffee hours with the community, feedback forums with staff, and principal-school committee member meetings. I also help manage our newly launched Facebook page to keep families informed of pertinent, fact-based information. With increased collaboration and communication, I have helped rebuild trust among our staff and improved our school culture.
Funding a Vision for Growth
As a local business owner, I was appointed to the budget subcommittee alongside Chair Kristen Elworthy. In prior years, the School Committee has been pressed to make hard cuts, most often at the high school level. Cuts to classroom teachers, world languages at LHS, an assistant superintendent, and a high school librarian, to name a few. While we inherited a challenging budget cycle, for the first time in recent years, this budget subcommittee took a hard stance and recommended NO cuts to positions at any level. The current 11% budget increase maintains all positions, programming and class sizes at all levels.
However, knowing that 11% is a big financial ask, we’ve worked strategically where we could. We’ve cut inefficiencies, reconfigured central office management, invested in technology, and expanded course offerings at the high school all without a budget increase. This type of strategic vision will be necessary to find ways to grow in the future.
I value our schools and the work of our amazing teachers, and if we want to continue to retain our staff, and if we want our district to be a leader in our region, then it’s time to advocate for the money needed to fund it. Having a thriving school system is the anchor of our town and it’s paramount for all citizens to maintain that.
My Top Priorities if Re-Elected:
While vital progress has been made this year, there is still ongoing work to be done. If re-elected, my goals for the next three years include:
- A fair, competitive, and fiscally responsible contract for our teachers so we can continue to attract and retain our high-quality educators
- Vision and planning for future budget cycles to continue to elevate our district, while also navigating this current difficult budget season
- Continue to advocate for all students’ needs, at all levels, with a focus on teaching and learning to support their success both in Lynnfield and as global citizens
- Think creatively and strategically to drive new non-tax-driven revenue for our schools so we can continue to elevate LPS in all budget environments.
This school district is why I moved to Lynnfield six years ago, and it is my top priority to maintain that caliber of excellence that attracted me to this town. It has been an honor to serve on the Lynnfield School Committee, and I am proud to do this important work. I ask for your continued support and your vote on April 8th.
Jenny Sheehan
Vice Chair, Lynnfield School Committee
