Recently, a well-funded political action committee known as SOS, for Support Our Schools, sent out an invitation and questionnaire to candidates running for political office who are interested in their endorsement.
I received this questionnaire because I am running for election to the Ward 3 City Council seat. After much reflection, I declined to participate in the SOS vetting process and I will explain why.
The SOS questionnaire appears to be a litmus test for an orthodoxy of perspective of city government that I believe is simply false. The questions are leading and conclusory.
Here is a sampling:
How do you understand your role as a Mayor/City Councilor/School Committee representative in view of assaults on public life?
What would a People’s Budget look like in Northampton, and what would you do to implement it?
How will you support the right of workers to organize?
How do you understand issues of social/economic/racial justice present in Northampton schools and throughout our community, and what steps would you take to make our community and schools reflect our commitment to social justice?
We’ve been told that there are not enough financial resources in Northampton to provide for all the needs of our public schools and students. What steps would you take to meet the needs of the schools as defined by the experts on the School Committee to achieve your vision?
Over the past year, I have closely observed the tenor and content of social media posts and other communications by the political action committee SOS. These tactics of vilifying public servants of goodwill who choose a course other than the one SOS prescribes, along with the nature of the questionnaire, leads me to decline this endorsement vetting invitation.
I believe Northampton’s public schools are fundamentally caring communities that encourage learning. I believe our teachers and administrators are working hard to create safe and equitable learning communities for all students — and, also, very importantly, that we still have work to do. I also believe that amid a steady erosion of state and federal support for which no municipality can realistically make up, our city government has supported the schools to the best of its ability.
This is why we all must continue working with our elected officials in Boston to change the funding formula that shortchanges communities like Northampton. Meanwhile, I am appreciative of stalwart community organizations such as the Northampton Education Foundation, the PTOs, Volunteers in Northampton Schools (VINS) and Northampton High School Booster Clubs, founded by parents decades ago in response to chronic financial shortfalls created by the impact of Proposition 2½. These groups have effectively supported our school communities, and of course, more can and must be done towards that end because the budgetary problems are chronic and systemic.
I believe people can disagree, be respectful, and also find common ground as we work to find solutions to the challenges facing our community.
Laurie Loisel lives in Northampton.