League of Women Voters ~ School Committee Forum Raises Opinion of Candidates

The four candidates for two vacancies on the school committee displayed what they believe to be their strengths on Thursday in their first opportunity to share the same virtual stage.

The forum, sponsored by the Bedford League of Women Voters, featured questions answered and posed by incumbent Brad Morrison; Eleanor Gorsey; Kelly Horton; and Sheila Mehta-Green.

Morrison highlighted his experience on the committee and his business background. Horton highlighted her role as the primary advocate for a return to the classroom during the pandemic. Mehta-Green highlighted her years of large-scale volunteer involvement in schools.

Gorsey referenced the institution she once ran, Bedford Learning School, which accepted students with learning needs. But what people will take away from his attendance on Thursday is his assertion that the school district’s goals of diversity, equity and inclusion, student-centered learning, and social- emotional should be abandoned.

Asked by the League which areas of the school curriculum should be strengthened or revised, Morrison cited social-emotional learning and science, particularly among younger students. Mehta-Green called for additional social-emotional learning resources at all levels, elementary literacy and the arts. Horton said she echoes the concerns of parents and other residents, such as Davis School literacy and more innovative science.

Gorsey began his response by saying, “I think a little differently.” First, she called for attracting more science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers, as well as industry and community volunteers.

Then she lit up in the district’s goals. “We don’t need money for a diversity coordinator,” she said, saying schools are already “33% in the minority.” She argued that students complain about negative portrayals of society in classrooms. “Why don’t we encourage pride in the things we’ve done? Our children come home ashamed of who they are.

The candidates also answered various other questions:

The League wanted to know if the candidates would support an analysis of schools’ response to the pandemic.

Mehta-Green said global outreach would include focus groups and surveys, involving all major constituencies, starting with students. Gorsey, called to respond, said: “I don’t know what more I could add.”

Morrison, noting that this type of analysis is his academic domain, said he would bring together a cross-section of stakeholders to set up the process and then collate the information. Horton stressed that the pandemic affects everyone, but not in the same way. She said she would suggest a separate analysis of decision-makers and “those who were not part of the process”. She added, “Everyone was really trying their best.”

Gorsey asked the other contestants how they would involve parents more in the program.

“The answer is to let parents know what we teach and engage them in the conversations that happen in the household,” Morrison said. “The parent’s role is to provide continuity between when the student is at school and the rest of that child’s day. For this to be done effectively, we need to make sure we inform our parents.

“The first step is about transparency,” Horton said, and “in some areas we have a ways to go.” Specifically, she said, many teachers send weekly messages to parents offering “constant transparency” about what’s going on in classrooms. “Then parents should be given the opportunity to give their opinion,” she said. Horton added that with the pandemic waning, more parents can get involved as school volunteers.

Mehta-Green said, “I inherently trust the professionals to set program guidelines. There is a great opportunity to continue to engage parents so that the lessons learned at school can bridge their return home and into the community. She agreed with Horton that parents can return to schools “to share all kinds of experiences”.

Horton’s question to the other candidates was what they would prioritize during their first 90 days on the school committee.

Mehta-Green said she would undertake a “listening tour”, targeting all stakeholders, from students to community members, “to understand what we are doing really well and what are the areas we can improve” . Morrison said he would focus on assessing and identifying Covid-related “learning gaps” as well as “teacher burnout”. He added that he hopes “the summer will be a time to regroup and recharge”.

Gorsey repeated his assault on the District’s objectives. She focused on social-emotional learning and said parents tell her ‘what is taught is a lot of gender identity and non-conformity’. She cited “national standards” regarding teaching middle school students specific sexual practices and topics that go against religious beliefs.

The League asked about budget challenges, particularly those resulting from reduced federal emergency funding.

The city is very supportive of the schools, Gorsey said, and “we won’t have any problems.” Horton said he heard parents say “we have a lot of mental health issues and the counselors are overworked and overwhelmed. When we have limited resources, we have to think about how we can change things when we have a need at a specific time. »

Mehta-Green noted that the city has taken advantage of federal money to expand its technology inventory. “That’s something we’ll have to keep an eye on, to make sure teachers can get the most out of the investment.” She also stressed the need to use “all available resources” to ensure that students with learning needs also benefit from socialization.

Morrison noted that in recent years the city has set aside money — this year $450,000 — for unforeseen special education expenses outside the district. It’s unsustainable, he says. He also cited the impact of declining enrollment on state aid and said: ‘The most fiscally responsible thing we can do is find ways to keep special education students in the county.”

Morrison’s question to the others was about “experience working with the budget and understanding of school and city funding.”

Horton acknowledged that his main financial experience was in the private sector. She added that the school committee does not need “five people who have experience and experience in municipal finance. I would look to other members to provide information and contribute to these discussions. She cited her “willingness and desire to learn more and challenge myself, and my ability to get up to speed quickly.”

Gorsey noted his membership on both nonprofit and for-profit boards. “I’m sure I don’t know everything about it, but I agree that we need people who have different strengths.”

Mehta-Green said she attended many school committee meetings and learned how the budget was put together “as a spectator.” She observed, “I think it’s really important to understand what the approval process looks like. If I was elected, I would invest time to make sure I understood. She also noted that her volunteer leadership at Bedford Elementary Schools Together and the Special Education Parent Advisory Council included budget responsibilities.

Candidates had up to two minutes for an opening statement and the same time to wrap up.

Gorsey said that “parents have a right to know what their children are being taught. The program is under local control, she said. She also wants to start a “mentorship system” using local residents and industry representatives. “STEM education is desperately needed,” Gorsey argued.

Horton said: “During my campaign, I tried to get a lot of input from people so that the opinions of others could inform my thinking. I want to focus my time and efforts on meeting the educational needs of each child. Horton noted that she will have a child at three of Bedford’s four schools over the next few years.

Mehta-Green pointed to his “proven record of working together within our school district” over 12 years as a volunteer. She said she taught as an adjunct professor at Middlesex Community College for two decades.

Morrison cracked, “I really want to do this job when we don’t have a pandemic. I feel like I acquired 10 years of experience in two years. Morrison said that during this time “we have faced many challenges in running a school system and doing things to keep the district running,” such as recruiting a superintendent, approval of budgets and expansion of the number of non-voting members.

Mike Rosenberg can be reached at mike@thebedfordcitizen.org, or 781-983-1763