Letters to the Editor
Flicop has the future of children in mind
Newton TAB, July 29, 2009, p. 10.
I’m writing to support the candidate in the election for Ward 7 School Committee with the diversity of background, breadth of knowledge, and wealth of experience necessary to succeed in the job — Sue Flicop.
Sue is the candidate with real understanding of the issues facing our school system. I know because I worked with Sue on the Citywide PTO Council and have seen firsthand her ability to focus attention and lead discussion on subjects like long-range planning in the schools, collaboration among stakeholders and strategic planning.
Sue is a leader who listens well and uses her skill and commitment to get tasks done. I believe she will not waiver from her own core values of strong leadership, willingness to make the hard decisions, and community advocacy and service as a School Committee member. In working with Sue over the years it has been clear to me that she always has the future of the children in her every strategic move or decision.
I look forward to having Sue as part of the School Committee. I believe she will support and help deliver strategies that will enhance education, support new curriculum initiatives and help to create more opportunities for collaboration among teachers in Newton Public Schools.
I urge Newton voters to join me and vote for Sue Flicop, a candidate with the vision and a record of “getting the job done” … til it is done!
Margaret Hannah
Walden Street
Flicop’s involvement and experience will help the schools
Newton TAB, July 29, 2009, p. 10.
I’m writing to support Sue Flicop as Ward 7 School Committee member. Sue is the candidate with the greater involvement and experience working toward bettering our schools, having been Bowen PTO co-president and Citywide PTO Council co-president. Sue has the leadership, intelligence and caring necessary in a School Committee member. I know that the education of my children, about to enter third, fifth and seventhgrades, will be better with Sue on the School Committee.
Sue supports the Citizen Advisory Group recommendations for improving our schools, and knows that change is necessary in these tight fiscal times to continue providing the excellent education that draws young families like mine to Newton. Sue’s strong analytical skills will be an important addition to the School Committee, as demonstrated by her commitment to implementing the long-range financial planning that the CAG deemed so important. Sue knows that long-range planning is more than projecting in advance what must be cut to balance the budget.
The biggest responsibility facing the next School Committee is hiring a new superintendent. Sue knows that this person must possess leadership and communication skills that can only be honed from previous experience guiding a school system and that Newton isn’t the place for on-the-job training of somebody inexperienced. Anyone with business sense (Sue has an MBA) knows that in the current economy we can’t afford to risk turning over our schools to someone without the appropriate background for this crucial position.
For more about Sue’s priorities, go to www.sueflicop.com, and please join the many voters like myself all across Newton who are committed to electing Sue Flicop to the School Committee from Ward 7!
Rebecca Manley
Newton resident
Founder, Newton MEDA Inc.
Flicop leadership skills are impressive
Newton TAB, July 22, 2009, pp. 10-11.
I am writing this letter in support of Sue Flicop who is a candidate for School Committee from Ward 7.
I have had the pleasure of working with Sue this past year in her role as the citywide PTO Council co-president. Through this experience, I am convinced that Sue would make an excellent School Committee member.
Sue is committed to transparency and open communication. As PTO Council co-president, Sue kept us informed of the myriad school-wide initiatives affecting our schools; of the proceedings of the Citizens Advisory Group; and of the school budget process. She solicited our input, fairly represented the PTOs in public forums, and took the time to summarize any event she attended (which were many!) in writing for all of us.
I also found Sue to be diligent and extremely hard working. But perhaps most importantly, I was impressed with Sue’s facilitative leadership skills — her ability to listen, her openness to differing opinions, and her interest in finding new solutions to old problems.
The new strategic plan and recommendations of the Citizens Advisory Group provide a road map for improving how we provide and ensure quality education for our children. This year – with a mayoral race, superintendent search, and the election of at least two new School Committee members — we have an opportunity to choose leaders who will deliver on these needed changes.
I believe that Sue Flicop will work to bring the kind-of positive change that Newton Schools need. Please join me in voting for Sue Flicop for School Committee. For more information, please go to www.sueflicop.com.
Lexi Turner
Ricker Road
Flicop knows all the right questions
Newton TAB, July 22, 2009, p. 10.
At the Ward 7 Sunday night School Committee debate, Sue Flicop showed a real appreciation for some of the tough options Newton schools are facing in the not-too-distant future. In addition to the discussion about long-term financial planning and increasing efficiency, I was impressed by some of the “real life” concepts she raised for School Committee research and consideration.
Will combining school and city maintenance departments reduce costs and improve efficiency? Will Newton need to change from the much-desired walk-to-your school system to a more citywide approach to take advantage of economies of scale? Will contracting out lunch services and other nonteaching functions save taxpayers money? On the kids’ side of the ledger, what needs to be done to add foreign languages back to the elementary schools? And my favorite, can we rework our priorities to strengthen our much-diminished elementary music, art, and theatre programs?
Sue Flicop showed a solid understanding of the huge financial pressures pushing on our schools and had the courage to talk about some of the changes that might be necessary down the road. She has my vote as a thoughtful and responsible voice on the Newton School Committee. For more information please go to Sue Flicop’s Web site, www.sueflicop.com.
Peter Dimond
Sterling Street
Flicop ‘embraces the thoughts and opinions of others’
Newton TAB, June 24, 2009, p. 12.
I am writing this letter in support of Sue Flicop, who is a candidate for School Committee from Ward 7.
I’ve known and worked closely with Sue through our participation in Newton’s Child Assault Prevention program. This program involves teams of three volunteers, presenting workshops throughout the school year, in Newton’s public elementary schools, in kindergarten, grade two and grade five.
The seriousness and intensity of the CAP training, the required commitment, the no-excuses follow-through and the sensitive teamwork necessary to deliver a high-quality workshop brings out the real character of a person. In classrooms bursting with energy and a wide array of students, Sue connects with each and every child. She is extraordinary.
I’ve no doubt that as a School Committee member, Sue would bring these important qualities, plus a strong, soft-spoken intelligence and respectful openness to every situation. She is an effective problem-solver because she focuses on issues, not personalities. She comfortably embraces the thoughts and opinions of others, before rendering a well-thought through idea or solution. Sue would be an effective leader and a welcome addition to the Newton School Committee.
Please join me in voting for Sue Flicop for School Committee.
Flicop actively seeks input from people with diverse views
Newton TAB, June 24, 2009, p. 22.
I am writing to express my support for Sue Flicop, a Ward 7 at-large candidate for the School Committee. Having worked closely with Sue over the past year, I believe she has two key qualities that we should be looking for in a school committee member. She has extensive experience in the Newton Public Schools and she demonstrates a collaborative approach to improving our schools.
In her current role as president of the citywide PTO Council, Sue meets regularly with all of the PTO presidents of the elementary, middle and high schools in Newton. As a result, she has gained critical insight about the issues that our schools currently face, and she has developed a thorough understanding of the concerns of parents throughout our community. In addition, over the past two years, Sue has served as a parent representative on the Strategic Planning Committee. As a member of this group, she helped to develop a set of core values for the Newton Public Schools and a set of goals aimed at improving our schools. Given these experiences, I believe Sue is well prepared to serve on our School Committee.
In addition to Sue’s vast experience, what also stands out for me is her ability to work well with others. She takes the time to listen and values people’s input. On PTO Council, Sue regularly checks in with members to listen to their concerns and then works tirelessly to address those concerns. She actively seeks input from people with diverse views and is known for being accessible, open and receptive to new ideas. Newton will benefit greatly having Sue on the School Committee.
Please join me in voting to elect Sue Flicop to the School Committee on Nov. 3. To get more information about Sue, please visit www.sueflicop.com.
Deb Rooney
Smith Avenue
Flicop has what it takes to be on School Committee
Newton TAB, June 17, 2009, p. 26.
I’m writing to support Sue Flicop in the election for Ward 7 School Committee.
I have known Sue for all my six years as a parent in the Newton school district, I have worked with her on a number of initiatives, and I have come to deeply appreciate her commitment to our schools. She also has followed very closely my work as a member of the Citizen’s Advisory Group during the past year.
Not only does Sue have the necessary knowledge, experience, and grasp of the issues facing our school system, but her years serving as PTO co-president at Bowen, as well as Citywide PTO Council co-president, have provided her with a significant ability to work effectively as an organization leader and deliver positive change to our school system.
Sue is strongly in favor of many of the recommendations put forth by the Citizens Advisory Group for improving the schools, especially the notion of long-range financial planning. Unfortunately long-range financial planning is often thought as nothing more than projecting in advance cuts that are necessary in order to balance the budget.
However, Sue demonstrated in the excellent piece she recently wrote in the TAB that she fully understands the real potential scope of clever long-range financial planning. Sue used the example of potentially adding back foreign languages into elementary schools to point out the benefits of long-range planning over the six-year period model espoused by the CAG: to look at a variety of scenarios regarding the number of grades and languages that could be included, to see what it would cost, to identify tradeoffs we might need to fund it, and to evaluate what we would be willing to give up to ensure the sustainability of this program. Newton needs elected officials who truly understand the implications of the CAG report so we can benefit from their work. In the Ward 7 School Committee election, Sue Flicop is that candidate. Please, cast your vote for the positive change Sue would bring to our schools!
Selina Pandolfi
Chestnut Street
Flicop’s got it
Newton TAB, June 10, 2009, page 14.
Our cities and town are at a crossroads as to how to fund public education. With the understanding that there needs to be clear and consistent messaging about cutting waste and government reform, what also is necessary is long-range financial planning. The city of Newton can’t rely on state, and for that matter, federal funding to make up shortfalls year after year. Sue Flicop, Ward 7 candidate for School Committee, has written in a recent Op/Ed and has publicly stated that one of her main priorities is to think long-term about how to deliver the best education while also making sure that the services Newton provides are sustainable. She stands apart from a number of other candidates – she is forward thinking and willing to look at how the school committee’s budgetary process has traditionally been done, and will look for change in process and policy.
The work she’s done as a parent representative on the school department’s Strategic Planning Committee shows the kind of innovative thinking that would serve our next school committee, and our city, well.
I’ve had the good fortune to work with Sue during her many years of service to our school system; I was PTO president at Angier (Sue was co-president at Bowen) and I was a member of the Citywide PTO Council (Sue was co-president). I’ve experienced Sue’s intelligence, leadership, and genuine caring for our schools. I know that she’s the candidate in this race with the necessary connections and understanding to hit the ground running and implement positive change in our school system right from the beginning.
For these reasons I urge all Newton voters to join me in electing Sue Flicop to the Newton School Committee from Ward 7.
Diane Greer
Waban
Flicop has a plan
Newton TAB, June 3, 2009, p. 14.
Sue Flicop’s column, “Long-range planning: Let’s get it started,” accurately explains why we need to develop and implement a long-range financial plan for the Newton Public Schools. Nowhere is the need for such thinking greater than in the planning for renovation of elementary and middle school buildings in Newton. If such a long-range plan had been formulated 10 years ago, perhaps our school buildings would not be in the state of disrepair that we find them in now. Some of these schools (e.g., Angier, Cabot and Carr) might have already been renovated by now; at a minimum, the time frame for the renovations would be known and “saving” for the renovations begun. It is good that the School Committee’s budget includes funding for a feasibility study to proceed with developing a long-term facility plan for Angier, Carr and Cabot. It is time to address Newton Public School’s long-term plans in an open and comprehensive way. Sue Flicop’s plan to build a long-range financial planning system for our school system is a great one.
I encourage Newton’s voters to check out www.SueFlicop.com and join me in voting for Sue Flicop on Nov. 3, 2009.
Isabelle Thacker
Salisbury Road
Flicop is just the person we need
Newton TAB, May 27, 2009, p. 12.
How great to read Sue Flicop’s guest column in the TAB recently (“Long-Range Planning for Newton Schools: Let’s get it started,” May 13, 2009). We are so fortunate to have a School Committee candidate who understands so well how much we need to improve the financial planning for our schools.
As a member of the city’s Blue Ribbon Commission, I urged the city to confront the dilemma of a growing mismatch of revenues and expenditures and to take the steps necessary to create a sustainable financial model. Sue Flicop understands the limitations of year-to-year budgeting and the imperative that we adopt long-range planning. Sue Flicop is just the person we need to put a new way of planning into action.
No one has followed school and city politics like Sue. She has an insatiable appetite for the often tedious work necessary to make things happen in Newton. Sue is familiar with all of our schools and knows that good planning and the execution of those plans require good sense and determination. Sue Flicop has the experience, sound judgment and tenacity necessary to implement change and to take good care of our schools.
I urge Newton’s voters to check out www.SueFlicop.com and join me in voting for Sue Flicop on Nov. 3, 2009.
Sarah Ecker
Prospect Park
School Committee candidate Sue Flicop will really help our city
Newton TAB, May 20, 2009, p. 14.
I’m writing in support of Sue Flicop’s excellent column in last week’s TAB pointing to the need for long-range planning in our school system, and also in support of Sue’s candidacy for School Committee.
We are past due with the idea that financial planning for our schools has to happen differently. Sue’s intelligent column, supported by the Citizen Advisory Group’s recommendation that revenues and costs be forecast over a six-year period, shows that she has the mindset for innovative change; that’s just what we need on the School Committee.
Not only is she thoughtful and forward-looking, but Sue is also the candidate in the Ward 7 election with the experience and qualifications for the job. Having served as co-president of the Citywide PTO Council and Bowen School PTO, she has been involved in our schools and the issues facing our system for years. As parent representative on the Strategic Planning Committee, she has already played a role in helping formulate the exciting new plan that will serve as the basis for how Newton improves on the way we educate our children. Sue has a finance background coupled with being the current parent of three Newton Public School students so she is able to see matters from different perspectives. With Sue on the School Committee, not only will Ward 7 be represented, but the whole city will benefit.
All city voters can vote in the November election for Sue, so please join me in support of Sue Flicop’s candidacy for Ward 7 School Committee!
Mary Beth DeNucci
Eddy Street