Focus on Education

Cambridge spends more per pupil than any other school district in the state, yet we have work to do to ensure that our results reflect that effort and investment. Our communities are threatened as we lose families to neighboring towns and cities with public school systems with stronger reputations.

We have unique strengths in our diversity and civic participation and it is absolutely imperative that we defend and support our public school system. I support the school committee and Superintendent Fowler-Finn in their efforts to close the achievement gap. I also work with the Council's University Relations committee to engage Harvard, Lesley and MIT on finding new ways to make positive contributions to our schools.

As Finance Chair, I worked with the superintendent and School Committee to ensure our education spending in the 2005-2006 budgets focused resources in a results-driven and student-focused way. We increased spending directly on students and in the classroom by reducing administration and operations costs. We were able to decrease class size by slightly more than one student per classroom, and ensure that Extended Day programs are available in every Cambridge public school.

I am currently working with Superintendent Fowler-Finn and the School Committee on a five-year finance plan that will expand resources where most needed.

Cambridge also has an excellent city scholarship program. I will work with the high schools to encourage an increased number of applications we receive each year. I was recently successful at increasing the financial amount of each scholarship, as well as doubling their duration, from one year to two.