ContributorAs a resident of Belmont for 24 years I have had children and grandchildren benefit from being educated in the Belmont public schools. I have been concerned about the standard of excellence in our schools and so shortly after they were available last year, I pulled papers to run for the Belmont School Committee. However, after a long walk with Matt Kraft where we talked about his background and expertise, the issues facing Belmont schools, and his thoughts about what can be done, I decided not to turn in the papers but instead support Matt in his efforts to be elected to the Belmont School Committee.
As a former public school teacher, a professor of education, and a researcher who is well-published and has studied areas such as student mentoring, teacher-parent communication, and teacher training, support, and evaluation, I believe Matt will bring a depth of knowledge to the school committee to inform our district’s decisions. Furthermore, I believe that Matt’s expertise in public education finance and economics will help Belmont get the most out of our school budget.
In addition to Matt’s extensive knowledge and expertise, I found him to be a pleasant individual who I believe is reasonable and respectful when discussing concerns and ideas, and who I believe will be effective working with others to get things done.
I believe that the Belmont schools are one of the biggest assets of our community and that Matt Kraft’s forward-looking vision and commitment to Belmont schools is what is needed at this time. I hope you will join me in voting for Matt Kraft for School Committee on April 2.
Brian Palmer, Clifton Street
