Issues
As a School Committee member, J.D. hopes to use his experience in education to work positively and collaboratively with families, teachers, district leaders, and fellow School Committee members to pursue a series of broad-based initiatives, including:
- Ensuring that the voices of Melrose citizens and families are heard by establishing more opportunities for communication with the School Committee;
- Ensuring student safety by reviewing district policies regarding background checks for school district employees and employees of after-school programs;
- Increasing support for athletic programs at all grade levels, including for girls’ sports;
- Aggressively pursuing grants and other financial support for the Melrose Public Schools from the federal stimulus bill, federal programs like AmeriCorps, and from area foundations;
- Pursuing funding to renovate schools in need of repair and to upgrade instructional materials and technology across all schools;
- Providing more opportunities for students to take Advanced Placement and honors classes;
- Expanding college counseling and programs to help students and families obtain scholarships and low-cost loans to pay for college;
- Increasing opportunities for teachers to receive professional development and other training to help them improve their classroom instruction;
- Expanding programs and community service opportunities for students by promoting new partnerships between the Melrose Public Schools, civic organizations and other school districts;
- Wherever possible, reducing fees for school district programs and services;
- Ensuring that the school district’s budget is focused as much as possible on programs and services that support students and families, not administrative and bureaucratic expenses.