Letter: Elect Brand, Fuxman To Natick School Committee

The following is an op-ed and does not necessarily reflect the views of Natick Patch.

Equality was the original vision of the public school system. Horace Mann, the founder of the common school, wrote: “Education then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men (sic), the balance-wheel of the social machinery.” It was to be funded through local taxes and give every child the opportunity to practice citizenship and gain meaningful employment. This in turn would allow them to contribute to the education of others through their taxes. We in MA have reason to be proud that the first free compulsory educational system in the country was founded right here in 1851. It would not be until 1919 when all American children would be required to attend elementary school.

Our MA public school system is 170 years old this year and I write to you as a Natick resident who is one member of the Natick School Committee. Each of our school committee members has responsibility for overseeing one of the goals in our strategic plan, and I am charged with considering our goals and strategic plan from the perspective of social justice including equity, diversity and anti-racism. I also represent the school committee on the Racial Equity Municipality Action Plan (REMAP committee) where five other communities in addition to Natick come together to develop racial equity action plans that address policies and practices that contribute to the racial wealth divide. I myself am the product of a public school education here in Natick from kindergarten to 12th grade. This education enabled me to become a first generation college graduate and to earn a doctorate in ethics. I am white and came from a lower income family.

The Natick schools succeeded in my regard, but there is so much more we need to do to make our schools and community welcome to all, especially people of color. We have learned that equality does not equal equity and inclusion. The work is hard and threatening to some. We are in the midst of addressing ways to be anti-racist, as well as inclusive and in the coming months, for example, we will reevaluate all of our policies with an equity lens. The upcoming school committee election is critical in reclaiming and building upon the original vision for public school education. In other words, we can do better. We can be a better Natick.

After much consideration, I have decided to endorse my colleagues Matt Brand and Shai Fuxman for re-election. Their work continues to be critical to the School Committee as we navigate our way through this global pandemic and offer students the best resources possible for academic and social and emotional recovery. Why would we change leadership in the middle of a crisis and 6 days before we are returning our elementary students to full time live education! I think we already have the two best school committee members who are fully committed to public education. They already have helped us take important steps forward in the short time they have been on the school committee.

Matt Brand is also a product of public school education from k-12 in Peabody where he grew up. He knows firsthand the value of public schools and their promise of equal opportunity. As an engineer in information management and technology, his computer expertise has been invaluable to our committee. His entrepreneurship is exactly the kind of creativity and originality we need as we create budgets and policies that embody equity, diversity and anti-racism. He is imbued with a deep sense of empathy, a keen ability to put himself in another’s place. This comes from years of directing children at an overnight summer camp, as well as strong listening skills finely honed from years of management experience. He is gentle and unassuming and kindness is a value tantamount to how he lives, an essential ingredient to helping those left out feel safe.

Shai Fuxman attended public school in Israel from k-2 and then attended schools in Mexico and Venezuela for 3-12. He knows first hand both the value of public education and what it is like to be an outsider. He walked into a 3rd grade classroom speaking no English at all. He was able to come to the United States where he eventually earned a doctorate in education from Harvard University. He has been working in the field of education for over 20 years and is a national expert in social and emotional learning, exactly the kind of expertise we need for our children and schools as we recover from COVID-19. He also is the father of a daughter with special needs so equity and inclusion are personal for him. I can honestly say he is one of the kindest people I have every met and a person of great integrity.

I am proud to support my two colleagues who will help us reshape and improve the original vision for public education. They have the intellectual acumen, experience and lived commitment to inclusion to help us move forward in the best possible way for all of our students. Please join me on March 30th and vote for Matt Brand and Shai Fuxman.

—Donna McKenzie, Natick