Dear Friend, 

I’m writing to let you know that I have decided to run again for School Committee and to ask (once again!) for your support and your vote.  

I don’t blame you if you’re wondering why I would still want to do this. It’s simple: I care deeply about the Public Schools of Brookline, our students, and our amazing educators. If times were calm, I would feel comfortable handing off the baton.  

But times are anything but calm.   

Our schools urgently need stability to build back to strength. I am committed to providing that on the School Committee and to returning our schools to the sustainable excellence we all expect and deserve. Here’s what that means:   

We need financial stability: this year a combination of factors, including an 11.5% increase in health care costs and the structural limitations of Prop 2.5, have severely pressed our budget. I am committed to finding solutions consistent with our values and commitments to students, parents, and staff.   

We need to keep our focus on educational excellence. That means supporting our educators in early childhood, in elementary literacy and math, and professional development. It means sustaining the full range of courses at the high school that have defined us as a high-performing district known for teaching innovation and engaged, successful students.   

We need trust and collaboration between the Town and the Schools. I was on the School Committee (1995) when we initiated the Town-School Partnership. It was more than a financial arrangement; it cemented a commitment that recognized the importance of strong schools to the town and vice-versa. That translated into strong relationships. When I was Chair, for example, I would meet monthly with the Chair of the Select Board. We need to rebuild the strength of those relationships to build a sustainable future.  

My long service on the School Committee gives me a sense of perspective, but also of hope. We’ve been through a lot; we can meet the challenges of now. I hope I can continue being that voice of experience and hope in this fraught and often frustrating moment. Our children and teachers need strong and stable schools in order to be the people we want them to be. I ask for your support in the election on May 6. 

With thanks, 

Helen Charlupski