Why should you vote # 1 for Patty Nolan, and ask others to do the same?

I am honored to be serving on School Committee and ask for your support November 8. I make a positive difference, keep my promises and focus unwaveringly on improving achievement for all students.

The summary of my campaign is simple: With our resources — community partners (Harvard, MIT), money ($25,000 per student) and families (many engaged highly educated advocates of public education), Cambridge should be at the top of the state. But we are not yet. We are making progress, and I have played a role in improvements. I make a real difference.

The summary of why support me is also simple: I have made a positive difference, I hold true to my principles of accountability, respect, transparency and excellence. My background is a welcome addition to the mix of skills at the table. I am effective and work collaboratively with my colleagues in the city and district to achieve positive change.

Whatever you hear or read about each of us as candidates, do your research. Remember what our job is, and assess where each of us stands on the issues you deem important. That is all that matters. We all believe in public education and care deeply about kids. How will your candidate do the job and vote on the tough issues?

What IS the job of School Committee member?
How well does Patty Nolan do the job?

I will start with a summary of how I've done the job. After all, you pay us quite well so you deserve to know how we earn our salary. (Our $32,000 salary is another benefit of Cambridge's extraordinary budget. I certainly earn it by working so hard and I appreciate it. But I recognize that it is far higher than any others in the state, maybe country. I pledge to seek to lower our salaries if and when we face any teacher cuts due to budget.)

When you elect us, it is to do four things:

• Hire and evaluate the superintendent of schools.
• Decide on the budget.
• Make policy.
• Represent people (you).

I excel at each element. I have been successful and effective in each area. I am proud and happy that my background and approach to my job have proven so valuable. Read on for a summary by area.

On the single most important issue - the choice of superintendent: I was the most active of SC candidates soliciting applicants to get a good pool. Throughout the process, I talked to educational leaders, vetted the candidates, listened to everyone and reached out to parents, community leaders & staff of all colors and backgrounds. Once convinced Dr. Jeff Young was the best candidate, I was his first and strongest supporter. My role in the search was key.

On our budget: I champion transparency and keep focused on the tremendous opportunity and responsibility we have in spending the $25,000 per student you give us. I've led the way redirecting millions of our surplus dollars (which we still had, even this year) into our schools and classrooms. I highlight areas of inequities and work to remedy problem areas. We have a ways to go, but partly thanks to my work, you know more about our budget, and we are more focused on assessing effectiveness to use our dollars more wisely.

On policies: I have worked on complex policy issues such as our controlled choice policy - with the result being that a comprehensive review is finally in process. I also work consistently and diligently (with success) to improve our district's environmental policies. And advocate for needed strategic planning in special education and technology.

On representing people: I ensure that voices of our community are heard. Two examples of the numerous times I represent students needs: Hearing concerns about rigor, notably in math across our elementary schools, and living it with my own children, I raised the issue. Some initiatives in math are taking place and I will continue to push for more. Our city, birthplace of The Algebra Project should be a leader. Knowing of issues in our special education department, I advocated and supported addressing concerns such as the outdated strategic plan, staff overload and SPED PAC involvement.

Summary: I do the job very well.

In addition to skills, I have what it takes to be a great public servant.

Excellent training: Part of what allows me to do a good job is my background. I bring management knowledge, strategic thinking, and thoughtful analysis to the Committee. We can only make good policy if we practice intellectual honesty, insist on good information and use a constructive approach to addressing issues. I do that. We need someone like me on School Committee. My background running small businesses, doing corporate consulting, and helping with a range of small mission-based organizations gave me skills I apply every day to my School Committee work

High expectations: Another reason to support me is that I am tireless in celebrating our successes, yet push us to address our shortcomings. Successes like extremely high graduation rates for all, including students of color. Shortcomings like an embarrassingly low proficiency for black, Latino, low income and special education students. And a 30+ point achievement gap unchanged in 6 years. Successes like the availability of programs across the city, both during the school day and afterschool, mostly for free. Shortcomings like the lack of music programs as in-depth as neighboring districts with fewer resources. Successes like unbelievable opportunities in some areas including biotech internships, shortcomings like many students not being challenged in math.

Courage: I respect the boundaries of School Committee roles, and am not afraid to take action when warranted. For example, reversing a decision to move a special education class out of CRLS. Or proposing a restoration of funds to two of our most effective non profit partners — Breakthrough Cambridge and Cambridge School Volunteers. Not to pander to votes, but because cutting those programs without cutting other partners just seemed unfair and short-sighted.

Integrity: You can count on me to be clear about my stands. You may not agree, but you will know where I stand. In line with that integrity, I vote my conscience, not what's convenient or politically expedient. Also, I never forget that our role is to monitor the district. For example, while I supported Dr. Young strongly, I will continue to hold him accountable, ask tough questions, and demand excellent results for all students.

Effectiveness: I have been an independent voice and a force for positive change in many areas! My impact has been substantive in many ways. I also follow up on issues, not just introduce motions. And I know that collaboration and accountability are key to continued improvement.

SUMMARY: I fulfill my promises, do an excellent job and have the character to continue to be effective and live my values. I hope you agree I've earned another term.

If you like what I've done and will do, I need your help. No one is guaranteed a seat. Please make sure I keep mine. I need your # 1 vote, any financial donation you can make, and your help Election Day either at the polls, or by encouraging friends, family, and contacts to vote #1 for me

Why Patty Nolan #1 — archive reasons, but still valid

This page summarizes why you should vote # 1 for me, on the issues*. I have accomplished a lot, and am quite proud that I have had a positive impact in precisely the way and areas I had hoped. I recognize, and know firsthand now that I've served, how critical it is to work with other people. It is precisely because I have been able to work with other people that I can proudly assert that I have earned your # 1 vote.

* You can also vote for me not on issues, but because I'm really nice, my kids have helped design wonderful campaigning materials, I am a strong environmentalist, I live my values — or any other reason. I'll take # 1s from anywhere! I also acknowledge that I'm not perfect (to my children's chagrin, I am NOT Mary Poppins, who's practically perfect in every way.) But, I do understand my failings, and try to address them.

The one sentence summary:
I have been an independent voice and a force for positive change, working with people across the district focused on one goal: Cambridge as the best school district in the state.

I believe that since I am running for re-election, you deserve an answer to the question "What has Patty Nolan been able to accomplish?"
My work has centered on:

• Unwavering commitment to high standards, excellent management practices, intellectual honesty and analytically-based policy-making.
• A commitment to quality instruction, and to resources at work in our schools, where research shows it matters the most.

What difference have I made?
My leadership, encouragement of public participation, asking the right questions, hard work and a focus on high expectations define me and have made a real positive difference

A few examples (and why I should be re-elected):

1. Facing a multi-million dollar SURPLUS for the third year in a row, I publicly spoke about the surplus, and proposed giving our principals additional resources to help meet School Improvement goals.

   Result: Success. Working in collaboration with my colleagues, we allocated additional funds this year to schools — almost $1 million from the surplus.

   [NOTE: Half the surplus, $1.7 million, was put away for future use. Another $720,000 remained unspent and was returned to the city. Good for the city, unfortunate for our teachers and schools who were told there was no money for field trips, etc. and did without.]
   
   
2. During debate on our Kindergarten assignment policy the administration-recommended policy struck me as misguided. It reduced options for low income families, risked having too few seats for some kids and was developed with no public input. I worked diligently to review and synthesize the information related to this complex issue. That work confirmed we needed a better solution, so I worked collaboratively to develop one.

   Result: Success. Together we reversed a vote and passed an alternative policy that increased options for BOTH middle class and low income families.

   Our role as overseers of the district and the importance of my independent eye were keys to this better outcome.
   
   
3. A defining campaign issue for me last time was doing comprehensive market research.

   Result: Partial success. The project happened, and has yielded some solid data and valuable information.

   We commissioned a market research project. In focus groups and surveys, we sought answers to why people leave our district, why people don't try our schools, what parents in them (like me) think and what incoming Kindergarten parents perceive. For example, the results show clearly that: many people leave our district because of teaching to the test, classroom behavior and bullying and that uneven quality of teaching are concerns for many parents. I look forward to using the data we do have in future policy decisions. (see my website for a summary I wrote for the Chronicle.)
   
   
4. As former head of an environmental company, avid recycler, and consistent advocate for energy efficiency, I led the charge for greater environmental responsibility.

   Result of my initiatives: the School Committee passed a new environmental practices policy, has reviewed more energy efficiency options for both the War Memorial and CRLS renovation projects and looked at ways to reduce school bus emissions.

You can count on me to celebrate our achievements and improvements, and be honest about our shortcomings. You can count on me to seek out relevant data, assess it honestly, and share it openly. I have stood up for accountability, respect, transparency and excellence. I am acutely aware that if we don't acknowledge our problems, we lose credibility, and worse we won't address them effectively. If re-elected, I will continue to be a positive and constructive change agent.

Has all changed? NO. We still spend an astounding $22,732** per student, twice other Massachusetts districts of similar enrollment. Yet we are not (yet) considered the best district in the state in all areas. And, while I am proud of achieving the goal of conducting real market research, excluded from the survey were many families who never tried our schools (!). By leaving them out, we lost an opportunity to develop more effective recruitment plans.

**$22,732 is an apples-to-apples financial comparison figure from the DOE; we spend $25,000+/student if you include out of district tuitions and transportation costs.)

As your representative, I hold Cambridge to the highest standards, encourage community input, raise the bar on environmental responsibility and push for more resources in our classrooms. I believe that I have earned your continued support. Our district's on the move. Please help me keep it moving UP.

Download Patty's 2009 most recent campaign literature which summarizes why she has earned your # 1 vote.    (Get Acrobat Reader, free from Adobe.)

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