Letter: Fahey Seeking School Committee Term
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To the Editor:
To the residents of North Adams,
I am both honored and humbled to be running as a candidate for school committee. I first came to this city 10 years ago as a student of MCLA. I soon fell in love with the hills and the community so I decided to try and stay as long as I could; taking the six-year plan by triple majoring. Soon after graduating, I was fortunate enough to be offered a job at Stamford (Vt.) Elementary School, I took it, and I've stayed.
Now, I'm about to purchase a home in this wonderful city and settle permanently. I could have tried my luck back east, but no, there was and is something about North Adams that holds great promise: In our character and our architecture there remains a reflection of a renaissance forged by the industrialized hope of the 19th century. In our landscape there is a harmonious blend of natural beauty and human endeavor. Recently, an art and maker-culture is blossoming.
Moreover, I have found few places with a population that cares as much about their city as do the people of North Adams. Although at times divisive, I believe at the heart of all the rhetoric lies a deep love for this city and the wish to see it succeed. I began my career observing and substitute teaching within our school system and I believe we have the potential to do great things.
This is my fifth year as the middle school social studies and ELA teacher at Stamford Elementary School. In my short time there, I've spearheaded efforts in directly integrating technology into the classroom through the use of Chromebooks and learning management systems. I am pursuing a graduate degree in "Teaching with Technology" through Marlboro College. I know firsthand how technology can be a positive agent of change in the trenches of the classroom and will support any such efforts in North Adams. If used correctly, greater technological integration will not only improve student learning but also save us money.
There has been much to-do about our current rating on GreatSchools.org. Although test scores are an important measure of a school's performance, they cannot be the sole indicator of a school system's or an individual student's academic caliber. Even GreatSchools.org admits this in their video.
The most immediate action we can take as a community in improving our rating is to flood the site with positive reviews. In the long run, yes generating improvement on test scores is important and to do so we will need to continue supporting best practices within our schools, continue the policies that are working, and evaluate what is not.
We have some important assets to be proud of. For example, our 21st Century Afterschool and early childhood education programs as well as our sports, drama, AP, and music programs are well known. We also hold a hidden gem in our E3 program.
This service and proficiency-based learning environment allows opportunity for many of our young people to excel and graduate. That is an accomplishment to be upheld. More so, I believe that we need to look at what has worked in this program and apply some of those elements to our greater school population.
The declining population of northern Berkshire County poses interesting questions regarding the future structure of our school system. As a school committee member I would be excited to work with the Berkshire County Education Taskforce as they explore the best available options toward greater school sustainability. Future monetary and academic success may rely upon the collaboration of the purchasing and the shared program resources of many surrounding communities. I would work to evaluate all sides of any proposition, hearing the voices of the community, and vote accordingly.
The next School Committee may have to assist in the construction of a new vision for our school system, facing the realities of a declining budget and student population, there may be some tough choices ahead. I am willing to make those decisions. Evaluating each with reason and objectivity for what is not only best for our children now but will be best for their future.
I would very much appreciate your vote next Tuesday.
Nick Fahey is one of four candidates running for three seats on the North Adams School Committee
Tags: candidates, election 2015, letters to the editor, NorthAdamsElection,
