We are so fortunate to live in a city, Northampton, in which civic engagement and progressive action are a top priority in the community. With the upcoming city council and school committee elections, I believe it is critical for voters to examine the extent to which the candidate’s personal values and choices reflect the change they hope to enact as an elected official.
As the parent of three students in the Northampton Public Schools, it is vitally important to me that the candidates are committed to fighting for a financially healthy public school system. Our public schools are chronically underfunded, in part to support charter schools.
According to the state Department of Revenue, Northampton will pay $2,446,886 in charter school sending tuition after the state’s $324,802 reimbursement. That money is a terrible burden for the public schools, but represents a much deeper loss for those of us who believe in public education.
Every parent must make the right choice for their child, but any candidate for public office who has chosen to send their child to a charter school must be ready to discuss their choice with potential constituents. I encourage voters to ask these candidates: Do you currently, and have you previously, enrolled your child in a charter school? Did you know what impact your choice has on the budget of our public schools? What will you do to prove you can be trusted to fight for Northampton’s public schools?
Summer Cable
Northampton