To the Editor,
Lisa Bergen and Cynthia Rainey have already hit the ground running.
During the past year Lisa and Cynthia have attended almost all of the School Committee and Building Committee meetings as well as many Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee meetings. In addition Lisa served as Chair of the Citizen's Transportation Committee and as a member of the School Committee's transportation committee. She knows how to ask questions, listen, research and come to an actionable conclusion. She served both committees gracefully although they came to very different conclusions.
Cynthia's dogged research during this past year uncovered the Keystone study, a report on the experience of towns in Pennsylvania with outsourcing of school transportation. It concluded that initial contracts are usually attractive but that subsequent contracts are substantially more expensive. This report was key in Concord's decision not to outsource busing this year.
Cynthia is not only a careful researcher she is also a software engineer whose understanding of technology would be an asset to the School Committee at a time when Concord's schools are investing heavily in technology. Concord’s schools need to justify their expenditures at a time when school budgets grow faster than household incomes.
Both Cynthia and Lisa have committed to work with the Finance committee on their five-year projections to provide a complete picture of school finances to taxpayers.
They have demonstrated in depth knowledge of Concord's school and town issues. They have both been doing the kind of research that school committees traditionally do. They have demonstrated that they have the commitment, the time and skills to serve on the School Committee.
I support Lisa and Cynthia because they have proven they will work on behalf of all of us for positive change. Visit LisaBergen.org and CynthiaRainey.org to learn more about them.
Janet Rothrock618 Annursnac Hill Road
Mr Smith
10:44 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Janet, well done. I think that you are the first to specify what Bergen and Rainey bring the table. Cynthia is clearly a competent researcher. Lisa made her presence known at a great number of meetings and has the gift of a silver tongue. Both have proven to be formidable adversaries of the school and building committees and the school administration. Question is, are they a good fit for the job as members of the School Committee.
The individuals that we elect to represent us on the School Committee must have strong leadership and people skills. Put this in perspective, Snook is the only of the candidates who has experience as a teacher. Who better to work with the teachers and administration to ensure the best possible climate for our students and teachers than one who has walked the walk. As a USMA graduate in engineering having led an engineering corps as a Colonel, she is well groomed to not only take on the role of leadership but also lend guidance to the building project.
Johanna Boynton participates actively in the community and schools. She is the only one who volunteered as a PTG president. She is also accomplished as a business woman and knows how to get things done.
Rainey and Bergen have proven to be accomplished watchdogs. I respectfully submit to you that Boynton and Snook are the candidates who have demonstrated themselves to be the real positive forces in the field of candidates. It's really a matter of fit.
Concordian
3:55 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Good points. I will add that according to www.johannaboynton.com, she was a teacher, coach and administrator for over eleven years. I think she and Snook would be excellent at giving voice to the serious concerns that our teachers have.
Mr Smith
4:44 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Concordian, thanks for the correction. And I summarize:
Boynton & Snook - trained educators, accomplished leaders
Bergen & Rainey - attended lots of town meetings, done some research on bussing.
Enough said.
John
6:05 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Actually if anyone bothered to *research* Lisa Bergen was both a teacher and an Administrator for many years. This is the problem, no one bothers to learn the truth before speaking.