SCHOOL COMMITTEE CANDIDATES' QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES Belfry Hill Neigbhorhood Association Annual Meeting, 23 February 2003. NOTE: These are synopses of the candidates' responses made by the BHNA's directors at the event. They are not direct quotes from the candidates, and should only be viewed as our interpretation of what was said. These notes also have not been spell-checked or proof read. -------------- QUESTION: What single issue most typifies why we should vote for you? Ann Gilbert: I'm an accountant. I can help school with prop. 2 1/2 issues. Helen Cohen: I will support the schools in bad financial times to keep the best education possible. These are divisive times. My skills as minister/counselor will be important to healing. Scott Burson: I'm proud of the budget. I'm an advocate for educational excellence. -------------- QUESTION: Had you been on the committee would you have limited the amount of school funds that could be spent on the superintendent’s legal defense during the recent Fiske debacle? If so, what limit? If not, why not? Burson: We were contractually required to pay those costs, and it was a reasonable amount given the complexity of the situation. Cohen: I agree it was necessary, but we should communicate to people what is going on and why things are being done. Would like to add that Martha Coakley, the county DA, opined that these costs were entirely in line with what she would have expected for someone defending this case. Gilbert: Also agree costs were necessary, but it should have been decided in open session so people understood obligations. -------------- QUESTION: Do you agree with the editorial in the Minuteman which supported the postponement of the Lincoln Fields project in order that the $3.4 million be used to reduce the forthcoming override by that amount? Gilbert: I don't think you can do that. Cohen: Same as above. Burson: Can't use operating money for overrides. -------------- QUESTION: Do you favor a customer-paying language program if language is cut from the school budget? Cohen: I believe very deeply in the importance of language in the world we live in. It opens minds to other cultures. I hope it doesn't come to that. Burson: Foreign language is a core element of our curriculum. Won't actually be cut while I'm in office. Gilbert: I would go to any langth to preserve foreign language. -------------- QUESTION: Peter Kelley has stated that he would build a Senior Center at 41 Worthen road. Since this parcel belongs to the schools, please sstate whether you support using this land for a Senior Center or other development. Cohen: I don't know enough, but keeping trails and conservation land important. Burson: Needs to be preserved, possibly for a school administration building. Gilbert: I support the best use of any land. Shouldn't be just for schools. School land should be treated as no different than other town property. -------------- QUESTION: In your opinion, what is the biggest problem facing Lexington schools? Burson: Long-term financial. We have postponed and deferred concrete and curricular items for a long while, and need to support them now. Gilbert: Lack of openness. The lack of opportunity to participate in school decisions. We need to bring the community back to support core values. Cohen: Financial. Passing the override is vital to keep up quality. An important issue is trust. The present divisions will heal with time. -------------- QUESTION: Have you voted in all town elections in the past 5 years and if not, why not? all said yes. --------------