J. Bradley (Brad) Morrison became a member of the Bedford School Committee in a joint meeting of the Committee and the Selectmen on Tuesday, November 26. Morrison will serve until Bedford’s town election on March 14, 2020.
Eight residents responded to the School Committee’s call for volunteers after Jill Marquis resigned in late October. Morrison, Eleanor Gorsey, Helen Pulizzi, Elizabeth Stringer-Keefe, Nina Rayfield Tate, and Gloria Tsai took part in Tuesday’s interview. Paula Gilarde and Paolo Sepe withdrew earlier.
The candidates revealed their goals and reasons for wishing to serve. Each answered a set of questions probing attitudes about setting priorities and making hard choices, graduation rates in minority communities, collaboration, and availability — especially in January when weekly meetings will be needed to finalize the FY21 budget.
Citing his management and academic credentials, Morrison set himself apart from the other applicants who presented more program-based perspectives.
The Selectmen and School Committee thanked all the candidates for stepping forward, complimenting their range of experience, diverse points of view, and varied skills.
Morrison won the second ballot, and a motion to appoint Morrison to the interim position prevailed with a majority roll call vote.
About Brad Morrison
In his Volunteer Coordinating Committee statement, Morrison noted that he is a tenured faculty member in the International Business School at Brandeis University, teaching both graduate and undergraduate students. He also serves in Brandeis’ Heller School for Social Policy and Management, teaching in an Executive MBA Program for Physicians and as a member of the newly-formed Committee for Teaching and Learning. In addition to his work at Brandeis, Morrison is a member of the Board of Directors for the Creative Learning Exchange, a not-for-profit organization providing support for K-12 programs around the country, mostly in the service of its goal to promote systems thinking.
Morrison and his family have lived in Bedford for 15 years and have a son in the 8th grade at JGMS. His application states he is volunteering for this position because he would like to see Bedford’s strong school system continue to thrive and believes he can make a contribution toward that goal.
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