SC Candidates were asked, Biggest Challenge facing Education?

School Committee Candidates answer Question #2...

"What do you think is the biggest challenge facing education today and why?

Candidate/Incumbent, Leo Brehm

"Immediately, schools have had to restructure their operations,
pedagogy, and metrics for success because of the pandemic. The pandemic
has exacerbated many of the ongoing challenges that have plagued public
education for many years.

These challenges include:

• Budget stress: Financial challenges from local, state, and federal funding demand difficult choices in school budgets
• Social and Emotional Learning: Supporting the whole child’s needs, beyond academics, K-12.
• Online versus in-person learning: Recognize the challenges from the online learning model, while identifying and carrying forward any positive features.
• Recruiting and maintaining highly qualified professionals: Maintaining a supportive and nurturing work environment to attract and retain good teaching talent.
• Inclusive-based curriculum and structural alignment: Continued upkeep and development of a good curriculum and pedagogy to reach many different learning styles and to broaden the diversity of voices that are in the curriculum."

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Candidate, Lauren Liljegren

"I truly do not think the negative impact of school closures over the last year can be overstated. This crisis is what called me to get involved in education; being part of the long-term solution is what keeps me involved. According to UNICEF, schools for 168 million children globally have been closed for over a year. A year! As of this writing, in Medfield, most children have a public school to attend just two out of five days each week. How did we let this happen?

The long-term consequences of this crisis are unknown and even the current impact is difficult to estimate. It is fair to say absenteeism and dropout rates have increased, while student performance has decreased, especially in math. Children of minorities, children experiencing poverty and children with disabilities are disproportionately affected. As with many crisis, those most severely affected are also the least able to affect change. Families like mine have temporarily chosen private school or hired tutors, to protect our children. So many others cannot.

As students return to school full-time, they will need support to catchup on learning and rebuild the stamina to learn and perform in school every day. Summer enrichment and individual tutoring are advisable. All of this takes money and schools were underfunded prior to the pandemic. Schools are, once again, being asked to do a lot more, with less.

In Medfield, the expectation of a district with robust offerings rests on property taxes, almost exclusively. Unless Medfield is willing to act to diversify its tax base, this will not change.

These are not small problems and they do not have simple solutions. I will bring a fresh perspective and dedicated service to the School Committee. I genuinely believe I am the right person for this job, right now. I hope to earn your vote on March 29th."

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Candidate, Robert Worth

"The biggest challenge facing education right now is meeting the needs of all of our students. One way to do this effectively and efficiently is by accommodating and differentiating more than we ever have so that every student is getting exactly what they need to be successful. Differentiation in school means tailoring instruction, content, practice, process, learning environments, and assessments so that all of our students receive equitable access, rigor and engagement in learning. When we speak about the widening achievement gap, we must consider all of our students, those who have had learning differences in the past, students who are having learning difficulties as a result of COVID, those who will require additional enrichment to be challenged, and every other student subgroup.

This challenge has always existed, but has undoubtedly been exacerbated by the pandemic. Educational practices that were once considered best for all students will no longer be enough to meet the needs of every individual. This is a time where we need to be more collaborative, more creative, and more adaptive than we have ever had to be. To help our educators do this effectively, and meet the needs of all of our students, we must carefully examine our district budget and prioritize academic and social emotional resources and supports to meet the needs of all of our students. This will surely be challenging, but I am confident we can work together to do this well and have a safe and strong return to school."