Brad Hafer – Candidate for School Committee

Submitted by Brad Hafer

I’ve lived in town since 2000, have three boys in the schools and a wife who is an active volunteer. I’ve served on Capital Expenditure Committee for 4 years and been on the School Committee for the past six.

As a member of the School Committee I’ve also had the pleasure of holding a variety of liaison roles across Fincom,Fiscal Planning Committee, Outdoor Recreation Area Study Committee, Fields Partnership, Energy Task Force,Youth & Family Services, Principal Selection Committees and the newly created School Security Task Force.

So, after six years I think I’ve figured out most of this job and what it takes make a successful impact. To me, it requires

• a positive vision for public education in Bedford,
• the ability to be objective, balanced and pragmatic while navigating the financial, regulatory and political issues
• and the passion and commitment do all the work.

I believe I’ve managed to demonstrate those qualities as I’ve carried out the tremendous responsibility. However, it is a lot of work. So much that I’ve sometimes questioned why I’d want to do it for another term.

But I look back at everything that the committee has accomplished over those 6 years with a bit of personal pride:

• We’ve completed the new HS on time and on budget
• Reviewed and implemented new programs of study cross almost every subject
• Updated our graduation requirements to be more competitive
• Continued to bring more SPED programs in house to lower costs while providing student learning in a least restrictive environment
• Launched a 1-1 computing pilot at the HS and continue to leverage technology as a critical element of our education delivery
• And successfully survived a seemingly never ending difficult fiscal climate
• But most importantly we’ve seen our students excel – in the classroom,  the community, at science and history fairs, on stage, on the athletic field, with their college applications, and in the job market.

Our town’s strong commitment to education and our high performing school district are being recognized and it is paying off for our students.

It is really this last point that makes it all worthwhile and brings cause for me to try this again for another term. As the cliché goes among us frazzled, car-pooling, homework-helping, breakfast- making, sideline-cheering parents: “It’s all about the kids.”

We still have more work to do that will require responsible leadership, with

• a new teacher evaluation system coming online,
• the transition to a new administrative team,
• changing demographics and growth of our student population
• evolving educational standards as we prepare our students for the global economy
• and, of course, continued budget constraints
• All of this while we strive to continue to deliver the high quality education that is expected – by our parents and students alike.

I hope you’ll allow me to serve another term to address these and certain-to-be new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Thank you, and I ask for your vote on March 9.