Jon Wensky Seeking Reelection To Shrewsbury School Committee

Shrewsbury MA

29 March, 2021

9:27 AM

Description

The following was submitted as a campaign announcement by Jon Wensky for the race for Shrewsbury School Committee. If you have a campaign announcement you would like published, email [email protected]. I am excited to announce my intention to run for re-election to the Shrewsbury SchoolCommittee. I've had the honor of serving on this committee over the last six years to ensureour schools maintain the high-quality standards and appropriate funding to carry forwardour town's tradition of educational excellence.I have served the School Committee as Secretary and have held my current role asVice-Chair consecutively for two years. In addition, I have participated in varioussub-committees including Policy, Union Negotiations, Student Advisory Council, andRedistricting. During my tenure, I have strongly advocated for school funding to supportcritical educational support services that meet the needs of all students. I've advocated forthe building of a new elementary school which, when opened, will positively impact classsize and quality of education across the elementary level within our school district inaddition to providing free full-day Kindergarten for all families. Since my election to theSchool Committee in 2015, I have built strong, reliable working relationships with mycolleagues, Central Office leadership, staff, school principals, and educators. I am proud tohave cultivated a deep working knowledge of this district, its students, educators, andleadership. I am honored to serve my hometown in such an impactful role.As a lifelong resident of Shrewsbury, I offer a unique perspective to the School Committeeas both a student and parent of students in Shrewsbury Public Schools. I've seen mychildren progress at every grade level as the proud parent of a graduate of the Class of 2020and a Freshman at Shrewsbury High School. I reflect often on my own experience as aShrewsbury Public School student and rely on my role as a Shrewsbury Parent to round outthe qualifications I bring to this Committee. Serving the School Committee has allowed meto understand the many complexities of our school budget. I have worked effectively withschool personnel, community members, and elected town & state officials to understandand respond to the multitude of challenges faced by our school district. The success and well-being of all Shrewsbury students, educators, and staff has alwaysbeen my first priority. Our district is forward-thinking, always looking to improve the highquality of our educational services while seeking the most cost-effective and efficientmethod of providing world-class educational services for students of all needs. Thepandemic changed public education as we know it and the last year has been exceptionallychallenging. Our work to respond to the post-pandemic needs of the district is justbeginning. With a laser focus on mitigating COVID's impact on teaching and learning, I willcontinue to remain steadfast to the District's mission of providing students with the skillsand knowledge for the 21st century and ensure our school community createsopportunities for all students to achieve success.Over the next several years, Shrewsbury Public Schools will continue to face unprecedentedfiscal challenges. Shrewsbury's pre-COVID structural deficit challenges have been furtherexacerbated by the pandemic and its impact on our commercial tax revenue to adequatelyfund municipal services, including our public schools. School resources and programs havebeen dramatically reduced due to a lack of funding. We need to ensure we are always in aposition to maintain or improve the quality of education we provide to Shrewsburystudents. As we look ahead to a challenging post-COVID public education landscape inShrewsbury, now is not the time for a change in School Committee leadership. I believe mytwo terms of experience and continuation of service will significantly benefit ShrewsburyPublic Schools through the ever-changing landscape of public education. With an eyetoward providing the best education to all students and the critical support and resourcesour educators need, I hope to leverage my six years of experience to serve the ShrewsburyPublic Schools for another three-year term. Shrewsbury needs tested, experiencedleadership in this role as it is critical to ensuring our school district continues to excelduring this very volatile time.I would be honored to continue serving my hometown as a member of the ShrewsburySchool Committee and respectfully ask for your support at the Town Election on Tuesday,May 4th.For more information, please visit my website at jonwensky.com.