I’ve been a professional journalist, poet and performing artist almost my entire life, and all three of those professions have given me a rock-solid appreciation for educators and public school education. I’ve seen that multi-cultural, interdisciplinary and well-rounded learning makes for students that have the best chance at full, engaged futures.

My main goals are to:

• Introduce and support initiatives that will continue Amity’s tradition of educational excellence, focusing on STEAM

• Be a force and a voice for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at all levels, especially in terms of making our schools a safer space for kids who are part of marginalized communities

• Oppose at every turn the forces (and proponents) of backward, conservative, anti-progressive political thinking, and turn the conversation to evidence-based science and history curricula, to spending more on the arts, and to teaching about, and with, leading-edge technology

That’s a big question, of course with no one answer, but at the highest level, the superintendent should be evaluated based upon the strength of the district in educational outcomes first, then the comfort, safety and acceptance as felt by the students in their schools, and finally by her efforts to drive parent participation through improved communications.

All three of these factors act as legs of a pyramid and without them, no school system can be said to be successful.

In the current budget of $54.5 million, once you deduct debt service, salaries and benefits, Amity is spending between $5,000 and $6,000 per student. With that money Amity is doing well, but I think we could be doing better.

I don’t see the need for a large increase, but the fact that two teachers were cut (English and Visual Arts), while our math scores have been decreasing and we’re finally seeing an uptick in enrollment looks to me like we need to spend more, rather than less. So I believe an increase is called for, and would look to advocate for it.

The current budget was an anemic 2.25 percent over the previous year, which is hardly enough to cover contractual obligations let alone leave room for growth. I would like to make that a 3 percent this year, which would increase the budget by only about $1.63 million from $54.5 million to $56.13 million.

That extra money allows us to bring back the teachers we lost, add support in mathematics, and make room for programs that give kids agency, fun, and creativity at their school.

As a coalition. The State, of course, determines major policy, and the Amity Administration and Board needs to follow those policies, but we also need to work together to make sure that we’re giving our kids the best opportunities we can within the given circumstances.

There is no room for gamesmanship in education. This is a job where the only side that matters is the best outcome for the kids, and hopefully we’ll have a team of people who see that.

As I mentioned above, math scores are a concern, although I’m not sure that’s a curriculum problem. My major worry is the willingness I saw to eliminate visual arts and English classes last year. (The stated reason for the visual arts was that it wasn’t popular enough – I don’t find that compelling).

We need more liberal arts education, not less.

Not particularly, although I am always in favor of allocating to offering more opportunities.

None, really. That’s the job of teachers and librarians. All books are good (some with guidance).

I need to better familiarize myself with it, but from what I know and have read, it seems like a well-considered and balanced strategic plan for students that can act as a guide rather than a rubric.

The answer is to keep an open mind and make sure that good-faith conversations are always welcome.