Submitted by Erica Callahan
I fully support Dan Brosgol as a candidate for school committee. He is passionate about Bedford and our schools, always available to discuss questions and concerns, and has the best interests of our students at heart. I look forward to voting for him on March 13.
As a current member of the school committee, Dan drives action towards the continuous improvement of our district. At the beginning of October the Special Education Parent Advisory Council approached the school committee noting that our special education kids were really struggling on their home days and there was space for more students in the classrooms. Dan had an immediate and enthusiastic response of “Let’s do this!” As the school committee chairperson, Dan requested that the administration determine what it would take to get more special education kids into classrooms four days per week. Four weeks later, the school committee voted unanimously to offer four days per week in school to more special education and higher need students, as well as to bring back kindergarteners four days per week.
Dan takes his role on the school committee seriously, and truly feels that his responsibility as an elected representative is to listen to and understand the concerns of all school district stakeholders. Early in 2020 when meetings were still in person, I went before the school committee with a concern during the public comments section of the meeting. The next day Dan reached out to me to further discuss my concerns. He didn’t have to do that, but it was important to him to really understand what my concern was and figure out what were the next steps that could be taken.
I imagine that this has been the most difficult year in recent history to be on the school committee. The unknowns of the future have been relentless, the guidance from the state has been minimal, the fear of COVID on our town, our families, and our teachers has been high, and the realities of isolation, anxiety, and loss of learning have been real for many of our students. With Dan’s leadership as chairperson, the school committee has balanced all of this and continues to set a direction to improve this unprecedented school year. As can be seen in the weekly broadcast of the school committee meetings, Dan is a strong and thoughtful chairperson. He makes aggressive, but not unreasonable, requests of the administration, and he’s said in meeting after meeting “We’re not done yet.”
Dan’s thoughtfulness, compassion, and perseverance have made him a valued member of the school committee. He also brings a unique perspective that few Bedford residents have: at least one of his five children are in each of Bedford’s four schools.
I’ve been thankful for and impressed by Dan’s contribution to the school committee, and hope you’ll join me as I vote for Dan Brosgol for school committee on March 13.
Loading ...
