Letter: Adam Newman for School Committee

Editor’s note: Next week, April 17, is the last week for letters of support for candidates. The candidates themselves will have the opportunity to run a statement in the April 24 edition of the Weston Observer.

Adam Newman for School Committee

I am writing this letter in support of the re-election of School Committee candidate Adam Newman. For the last year, he has led the School Committee as chair – elected by members after being on the Committee for just two years. He is chair because he has the experience and background we need on the School Committee right now.

As the (now-retired) Weston Owl, I interviewed Adam in April 2023. His answer to my question about his background was a summary of all his experience in education – he had been a teacher for four years and then worked in education strategy. The Owl also asked about his children and if they attend Weston public schools (full disclosure: Adam’s daughter had been a friend of my son in the Covid-craziness of eighth grade. As you may recall, many kids moved to private school at that time). The answer is they both attended through middle school. I didn’t ask why; that’s a private decision.

Do School Committee members without current public school students have enough skin in the game? I used to say “no, they don’t.” But now, as my kids have graduated, I feel differently. Would you say that I am not eligible to vote for Weston School Committee members because I don’t have kids in the school system? Of course not and I am voting like I have done in just about every election and Town Meeting since I moved here in 2014.

I have skin in the game and so do you, Weston – our public schools’ and town success. Adam has proven himself with a career in education and his past years of volunteer work on School Committee. We are fortunate as a town that he is willing to again volunteer his time for Weston Public Schools. Go ‘cats!

Kristin Barbieri, Stony Brook Road