The candidates in the District 2 School Committee race offer voters two distinct choices. Two issues in particular illustrate why I am qualified to represent all constituents.
Experience:
For four years I have run my own business helping municipalities and school districts around the country operate more efficiently. I work daily with business officers and finance directors, guiding them towards methods of financial reporting that illuminate the key issues and facts. Each time I work with a new client I also learn from their years of experience. As we enter an extremely difficult budget environment, we need people on the school committee who bring an in-depth understanding of the issues.
Priorities:
Throughout the campaign my opponent has indicated that “greening” the schools, increased access to community centers and innovative learning methods are his priorities. While these are important issues, I don’t believe they are the key issues facing the school committee.
Here are my priorities:
1) It’s the Budget! We are facing a $3,000,000 reduction in school funding in this fiscal year alone. These cuts will impact student learning as well as the bottom line. Everything we do needs to be viewed through this filter.
2) Several school Facilities around the district need immediate attention. I have experience doing just this type of work with city and school officials as we made targeted improvements to Reiche School and Community center.
3) We need to provide the best Curriculum and Technology to ensure our students are ready to enter college and the work force. There are several models of success in Portland, in particular at King Middle School and Casco Bay High School. I believe we need to empower the teachers and administrators involved in these programs to share this valuable information on how to bring success into every school.
While my opponent and I share many beliefs, it is perspective, experience and priorities that set us apart. I have been very involved in our community and have demonstrated my energy, focus and commitment to building a better community.
The school committee is responsible for roughly half the tax dollars in Portland. The people we elect to sit on this committee should be prepared to bear this responsibility with the right experience and perspective.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
School Committee Race Offers Two Distinct Choices
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Why I am Running for School Committee
I believe that the Portland School system should be the best in the state and I want to be a part of that effort. Since some people have asked me to be specific about what my campaign for school committee stands for, I’m happy to provide the following.
School Committee Responsibilities - I believe the School Committee is responsible for proposing informed and responsible budgets, managing facilities and ensuring that the curriculum and overall atmosphere produces the best educated students possible. I believe my experience and skills will help the School Committee meet these goals.
Informed and Responsible Budgets – I believe informed and responsible budgets are developed through long range planning, looking for ways to consolidate services and programs, and challenging everyone in the system to find ways to control costs. My experience working with school districts across the country and helping them produce budget documents that provide accurate and targeted information will enable me to immediately contribute to budget discussions.
Safe and Well Utilized School Facilities – I believe Portland’s school facilities are important assets for the entire city. In all facilities we need to be sure we are maintaining them to avoid conditions that have a negative impact on learning, not to mention the costs incurred if we wait too long. We also need to take advantage of the community center space in our three Community Schools and promote their use by the constituencies in each neighborhood. Active partnerships between the city and school administration are critical to keeping these facilities safe and fully utilized.
As an example of how these partnerships can work, I point to the improvements made at Reiche Community School over the past four years. After Reiche failed to secure funding in the last round of the state’s school renovation program, I was among several parents on the Parent Advisory Committee that worked with city and school administrators to address issues that needed immediate attention. Through targeted expenditures and partnerships with local businesses we renovated classrooms, installed energy efficient windows, painted interior spaces, created an outdoor classroom, and improved locker room facilities for the pool. Today, teachers are more enthusiastic than ever to be a part of the school, fewer families are choosing to send their children out of district and more are requesting waivers to attend Reiche, and most importantly, test scores have improved. In addition, the experience of improving Reiche has resulted in stronger partnerships between the city and school administrations.
Broad And Enriching Curriculum – I believe the School Committee is responsible for ensuring that the curriculum taught in our schools does more than “teach to the tests.” New and innovative learning methods including expeditionary schools can be used to provide a variety of choices throughout the district. We need to produce students who not only test well, but are capable of critical and creative thinking. In order to do this, the School Committee needs to provide guidance on how to maintain learning programs and extracurricular activities. As one who benefited from an excellent education and participated in drama, chorus and athletics throughout my school career, I have a passion about developing well-rounded individuals.
21st Century Technology - Technology in the classroom will enable Portland students to participate in a world economy. We need to develop math, science and technology programs that produce students who are ready to help build a strong Maine economy that retains its best students. The School Committee should ensure that advanced technology based classes are available for all students.
Supported and Appreciated Teachers – Teachers are on the front line and need to know that they are respected, appreciated and valued. While this needs to primarily come from students and parents, the School Committee sets the tone by demonstrating their support for its teachers and listening to their ideas. At Reiche, the PTO puts on a Staff Appreciation Week that shows teachers, ed-techs, cafeteria workers, custodial staff, crossing guards, and even the principal how much we value their efforts.
Increased Family Involvement - Lastly, I believe the School Committee should promote efforts to increase family involvement in all schools. As parents of two children in the Portland School system, we have learned that the more we are engaged with our childrens' school, teachers and friends, the more rewarding the experience becomes. Whether enjoying the food at the annual multi-cultural potluck, going on field trips, reading in the classroom, serving on the PTO, or coaching basketball and lacrosse, we have gained so much more than we have given. Portland benefits from an extraordinarily diverse population, and the more families are involved, the more we all benefit.
I hope this has given you an idea of what I believe and why I want to bring this passion to the School Committee.
School Committee Responsibilities - I believe the School Committee is responsible for proposing informed and responsible budgets, managing facilities and ensuring that the curriculum and overall atmosphere produces the best educated students possible. I believe my experience and skills will help the School Committee meet these goals.
Informed and Responsible Budgets – I believe informed and responsible budgets are developed through long range planning, looking for ways to consolidate services and programs, and challenging everyone in the system to find ways to control costs. My experience working with school districts across the country and helping them produce budget documents that provide accurate and targeted information will enable me to immediately contribute to budget discussions.
Safe and Well Utilized School Facilities – I believe Portland’s school facilities are important assets for the entire city. In all facilities we need to be sure we are maintaining them to avoid conditions that have a negative impact on learning, not to mention the costs incurred if we wait too long. We also need to take advantage of the community center space in our three Community Schools and promote their use by the constituencies in each neighborhood. Active partnerships between the city and school administration are critical to keeping these facilities safe and fully utilized.
As an example of how these partnerships can work, I point to the improvements made at Reiche Community School over the past four years. After Reiche failed to secure funding in the last round of the state’s school renovation program, I was among several parents on the Parent Advisory Committee that worked with city and school administrators to address issues that needed immediate attention. Through targeted expenditures and partnerships with local businesses we renovated classrooms, installed energy efficient windows, painted interior spaces, created an outdoor classroom, and improved locker room facilities for the pool. Today, teachers are more enthusiastic than ever to be a part of the school, fewer families are choosing to send their children out of district and more are requesting waivers to attend Reiche, and most importantly, test scores have improved. In addition, the experience of improving Reiche has resulted in stronger partnerships between the city and school administrations.
Broad And Enriching Curriculum – I believe the School Committee is responsible for ensuring that the curriculum taught in our schools does more than “teach to the tests.” New and innovative learning methods including expeditionary schools can be used to provide a variety of choices throughout the district. We need to produce students who not only test well, but are capable of critical and creative thinking. In order to do this, the School Committee needs to provide guidance on how to maintain learning programs and extracurricular activities. As one who benefited from an excellent education and participated in drama, chorus and athletics throughout my school career, I have a passion about developing well-rounded individuals.
21st Century Technology - Technology in the classroom will enable Portland students to participate in a world economy. We need to develop math, science and technology programs that produce students who are ready to help build a strong Maine economy that retains its best students. The School Committee should ensure that advanced technology based classes are available for all students.
Supported and Appreciated Teachers – Teachers are on the front line and need to know that they are respected, appreciated and valued. While this needs to primarily come from students and parents, the School Committee sets the tone by demonstrating their support for its teachers and listening to their ideas. At Reiche, the PTO puts on a Staff Appreciation Week that shows teachers, ed-techs, cafeteria workers, custodial staff, crossing guards, and even the principal how much we value their efforts.
Increased Family Involvement - Lastly, I believe the School Committee should promote efforts to increase family involvement in all schools. As parents of two children in the Portland School system, we have learned that the more we are engaged with our childrens' school, teachers and friends, the more rewarding the experience becomes. Whether enjoying the food at the annual multi-cultural potluck, going on field trips, reading in the classroom, serving on the PTO, or coaching basketball and lacrosse, we have gained so much more than we have given. Portland benefits from an extraordinarily diverse population, and the more families are involved, the more we all benefit.
I hope this has given you an idea of what I believe and why I want to bring this passion to the School Committee.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The following is text from the League of Young Voters endorsement.
"Ed Bryan is a bundle of energy and he will talk your ear off about his involvement with Reiche school, where his two children attend. We think it's a good thing - Ed is clearly well-connected to both the school and his Portland community. He co-chairs the Parent Teacher Organization with his wife, is a member of the Parent Advisory Committee, is actively engaged in his West End Neighborhood Association, and coaches lacrosse to English Language Learners (ELL) students on "Adventure Thursdays." He was approached by several parents in the PTO to run and parents gathered signatures to place him on the ballot while he was out of town. Ed's ideas for Portland-wide school issues tend to start (and sometimes end) with experiences at Reiche, and his views on how to improve multiculturalism are grounded in the tenants of personal, face-to-face relationship building. He believes that safe and strong schools build safe and strong neighborhoods. Ed's professional life fits well with school committee budget objectives as he runs a business that works with municipalities, school districts and non-profits to write budget, finance, and personal reports. Ed believes that collaboration and communication are key to success in team efforts. He is friendly, outgoing and approachable, and we believe he will strive to connect schools in Portland to the greater community in all that he does."
For the full list of endorsements... http://theballot.org/2009/yourguide
"Ed Bryan is a bundle of energy and he will talk your ear off about his involvement with Reiche school, where his two children attend. We think it's a good thing - Ed is clearly well-connected to both the school and his Portland community. He co-chairs the Parent Teacher Organization with his wife, is a member of the Parent Advisory Committee, is actively engaged in his West End Neighborhood Association, and coaches lacrosse to English Language Learners (ELL) students on "Adventure Thursdays." He was approached by several parents in the PTO to run and parents gathered signatures to place him on the ballot while he was out of town. Ed's ideas for Portland-wide school issues tend to start (and sometimes end) with experiences at Reiche, and his views on how to improve multiculturalism are grounded in the tenants of personal, face-to-face relationship building. He believes that safe and strong schools build safe and strong neighborhoods. Ed's professional life fits well with school committee budget objectives as he runs a business that works with municipalities, school districts and non-profits to write budget, finance, and personal reports. Ed believes that collaboration and communication are key to success in team efforts. He is friendly, outgoing and approachable, and we believe he will strive to connect schools in Portland to the greater community in all that he does."
For the full list of endorsements... http://theballot.org/2009/yourguide
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Portland Maine, August 26, 2009 – Ed Bryan, West End resident and Reiche School activist, has announced his candidacy for the District 2 School Committee seat in Portland.
Mr. Bryan is currently on the board of the West End Neighborhood Association and on the steering committee for the West End Community Action Network (WECAN), the group charged with implementing plans and CDBG funds granted to build a safer and more interconnected West End neighborhood.
In addition, Mr. Bryan has been on the Reiche School PTO and Parent Advisory Committee (RPAC) since 2004. Working closely with the school’s administrators, RPAC helped secure funding for improvements to Reiche School that have created a safer and better learning environment. “Instead of waiting five to seven years for a state sponsored renovation that would have cost so much more,” said Mr. Bryan, “we felt that if we could address a few key areas and help the principal stay focused on learning results, it would be a better investment for everyone.”
Mr. Bryan is the owner of a small business, Crystal Reporting Solutions. Working from his office on Congress St he consults with and writes budget, finance, and personnel reports for municipalities and school districts across the country. “For 8 years I have been helping clients get to the heart of the issues by writing reports that present information in a clear and concise manner,” says Mr. Bryan. “The feedback I get is that people start talking about real issues instead of complaining that they can’t understand the data!”
A Portland resident since 1993, Mr. Bryan graduated from Bowdoin College in 1987, worked at L.L. Bean for seven years, Tyler Technologies for seven years and has been running his own business since 2005. Married since 1995 to Suzanne, the current Reiche PTO co-chair, they have two children at Reiche School and plan to send the first of them to King Middle School next year. In his spare time he coaches his son’s lacrosse, soccer and basketball teams, sings with the Portland Community Chorus and swam his first Peak’s to Portland race this past July.
When asked of his priorities for the school committee, Mr Bryan stated that proposing informed budgets and operating within those budgets is the biggest priority. “I also hope to help facilitate partnerships between the City and School Department, using my experience with building relations between Reiche School, Portland Recreation and WENA”
Mr. Bryan is currently on the board of the West End Neighborhood Association and on the steering committee for the West End Community Action Network (WECAN), the group charged with implementing plans and CDBG funds granted to build a safer and more interconnected West End neighborhood.
In addition, Mr. Bryan has been on the Reiche School PTO and Parent Advisory Committee (RPAC) since 2004. Working closely with the school’s administrators, RPAC helped secure funding for improvements to Reiche School that have created a safer and better learning environment. “Instead of waiting five to seven years for a state sponsored renovation that would have cost so much more,” said Mr. Bryan, “we felt that if we could address a few key areas and help the principal stay focused on learning results, it would be a better investment for everyone.”
Mr. Bryan is the owner of a small business, Crystal Reporting Solutions. Working from his office on Congress St he consults with and writes budget, finance, and personnel reports for municipalities and school districts across the country. “For 8 years I have been helping clients get to the heart of the issues by writing reports that present information in a clear and concise manner,” says Mr. Bryan. “The feedback I get is that people start talking about real issues instead of complaining that they can’t understand the data!”
A Portland resident since 1993, Mr. Bryan graduated from Bowdoin College in 1987, worked at L.L. Bean for seven years, Tyler Technologies for seven years and has been running his own business since 2005. Married since 1995 to Suzanne, the current Reiche PTO co-chair, they have two children at Reiche School and plan to send the first of them to King Middle School next year. In his spare time he coaches his son’s lacrosse, soccer and basketball teams, sings with the Portland Community Chorus and swam his first Peak’s to Portland race this past July.
When asked of his priorities for the school committee, Mr Bryan stated that proposing informed budgets and operating within those budgets is the biggest priority. “I also hope to help facilitate partnerships between the City and School Department, using my experience with building relations between Reiche School, Portland Recreation and WENA”
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
