Politics & Government

Ask the School Committee: What is Your Idea of a Successful School System?

Dedham Patch asked the three candidates for School Committee three questions. This is the second part of a three-part series.

In the first of a three-part series, Dedham Patch asked the three candidates for School Committee: What is your idea of a successful school system?

John Maida

There are many things that I think of when I think of a good and successful school system but I immediately think of three things. The first thing I think of is communication. We need to make sure there are continuous open lines of communication between parents, schools and the school committee. Pushing information out prior to having to parents or the community ask for it should be our goal. If we keep the community well informed it will build trust, loyalty and a very strong educational system.

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Next is accountability. We are in financially tough times but we still need to make those important but tough decisions. These decisions have to be made together as a committee and we need to stand behind them, always remembering that the superintendent works for the committee and the residents.

Last is accessibility. The last few years the schools and the committee have put themselves on an island with no bridges to cross. We need to build those bridges with the community and be accessible for all issues seven days a week. The committee has to be open for public discussion and input from all individuals and groups in the town.

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If we can improve on these issues the future of our educational system will be stronger and limitless. As a town we have already proved that we value our school system by voting for the two new schools. Now we need to work together and make it the school system stronger and the best. We can achieve this with teamwork. We are Dedham. We succeed or fail together. If elected I will work endlessly to make our schools systems the best it can be.

Susan Butler Walko
A successful school system must place academics as the top priority and must constantly seek to strengthen academic programs first. A successful system works to set standards that are high to create opportunities post-graduation for our students, but these standards must be embraced and agreed by the parents, teachers, administration, students and the entire community. In addition, a successful system focuses on the development of the whole child, offering developmental activities such as sports, fine arts, science and math clubs debate societies and service organizations.   

Tom Ryan, incumbent
A  good school system constantly strives to improve academic achievement. In the last year here are some of our accomplishments:

  • Everyday Math the new K-grade five math curriculum was fully implemented.
  • New science textbooks were purchased for the grade four and five science curriculum.
  • The MMSI grant at DHS has allowed our AP offerings to expand and increase student participation.
  • was recognized by Boston Magazine as one of the top 50 public high schools in Massachusetts.

A good school system allows children of every ability to receive a quality education. In the last year here are some of our accomplishments:

  • 100 percent of Dedham teachers have achieved the accreditation designation of highly qualified.
  • In district special education programs were increased and expanded and out of district placements have declined.
  • Summer school program piloted last summer for and DHS.
  • Project Diploma and the Credit Recovery program were introduced to address the needs of students at risk of dropping out.

A good school system is well funded and supported by the community. In the last year here are some of our accomplishments:

  • Override vote to build the new and the new track and field passed by voters.
  • Town administrator allocated additional funding to the school department to pay for math coach and additional MCAS programs at Avery and  schools.
  • Siemens program passed at last year’s town meeting to make all of the schools more energy efficient.

A good school system forges partnerships with parents and the community. In the last year here are some of our accomplishments:

  • The superintendent has worked closely with the new police chief and new fire chief to ensure student safety.
  • New policies regarding bullying, peanut allergies and class rank were voted and approved by the Dedham School Committee with community input and outreach.
  • Elementary progress reports are being provided to parents approximately every six weeks and parent curriculum nights were introduced at the elementary level for ELA and math.

Simply put, I believe a good school system is a safe school system that challenges students academically, fosters their personal growth and prepares them to succeed. This is the school system we have here in Dedham, but I think we are more than simply a good school system, we are a school system on our way to becoming a great school system. For next year we plan to team the ninth grade to ease the transition from the middle school to the high school. In order to succeed we must be open to innovative changes, the teaming approach is an example of how we continue to improve the overall quality of our school system.


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