I was glad to see the Gazette do in-depth coverage of school issues in its Oct. 1 article “Northampton mayoral, at-large candidates speak at high school forum”), especially because of the urgent needs in our schools. But, what the article failed to highlight was the incredible leadership provided by Zara Usman and the other members of the Northampton Student Union who planned and executed one of the most disciplined and impactful candidate forums I’ve ever witnessed.
From the incisive questions they asked to the amusing and effective way they got us (often long-winded) candidates to stop talking, these young people made sure the most pressing issues remained center stage. Of course, that shouldn’t be surprising because these are the kind of fearless young leaders Northampton schools are known for and because they are living with the impacts of school policy and budget decisions every day. I hope we all remember to center them when we cast our votes on Nov. 4.
Emily Serafy-Cox
Northampton