It's hard to believe a year has gone by already!

Last year, I was elected to fill a one-year term left vacant by a resignation. This spring, I am asking for your support once again, so that I can continue to work  to promote a well-rounded education that will allow the students of Sandwich to continue to compete in a rapidly changing World economy.

I am encouraged by the progress that the School Committee has made this year and I want to continue working with this team to provide our children with the best education possible. 

During the past year:

 ·    We began a strategic planning process that brought people together to plan for the future growth and improvement of the Sandwich Public Schools.  These meetings included not just school administrators, but also town officials, parents, grandparents, and other interested residents.

 ·    We replaced aging computer equipment with new or refurbished machines and related software and peripheral devices.  This has expanded educational opportunities for every student.

 ·    We began work to implement an improved curriculum framework. Our goal is to ensure that the program of studies is consistent in classrooms throughout the system and closely aligned to the State’s curriculum framework and MCAS exams.

·    We increased educational opportunities by implementing Study Island,  a web-based learning program designed to help students study at home or in school at their own pace.

 ·    We improved communication with the community by expanding the School Department’s website at www.SandwichSchools.org -- at no cost to the taxpayers.  (I am particularly pleased with this one – because I built it!)

 ·    We restored the Instrumental Music Program in grades K-8. Now, this program is enjoying rapidly escalating membership at all three schools.

 ·    We supported an innovative approach to fund repair of the long-neglected track with revenue from a cell phone transmitter lease. Despite various changes made during the approval process, this “out of the box” thinking by the School Department will generate somewhere between $200,000 and $600,000 for the Town over the next 10-20 years.

 ·    We supported formation of a Safety Committee that includes representation from the School Department, the Community School, Police, Fire and the Town Administrator's Office, as well as very experienced professionals from our community.  This group has been working together to develop a comprehensive safety plan for our schools and has come to epitomize what can be accomplished as the result of cooperation, coordination and teamwork.

 ·    We increased efficiency and reduced costs by consolidating responsibility for all school facility maintenance under a single Supervisor.  This has allowed cost savings through better coordinated maintenance and has reduced the costs previously paid to outside contractors. 

 ·    We aggressively negotiated labor contracts and more fully utilized an experienced municipal labor attorney throughout negotiations to ensure our collective bargaining agreements are both realistic and reasonable in the current economic environment.

·    We re-allocated resources by beginning the process of  consolidating the School Administration offices into the High School.  This will not only reduce operating costs, but also provide capital revenue to the Town if the existing Administration Building is liquidated.

·    We reduced energy costs by partnering with Cape Light Compact to review energy usage at school facilities and propose cost saving measures which have reduced energy costs by approximately 15%.

 But, there’s more to be done.

 ·    We must continue cost control efforts while at the same time protecting core academic services.  The School Department produced an FY ’08 budget, which grew by just 3.1% over the prior year.  Despite this modest increase, the Schools once again cut positions and raised fees to meet this budget

 ·    We must continue to pursue additional sources of funding – grants, rental income, corporate sponsorships, advertising, etc.

 ·    We must continue efforts to make school finances as transparent as possible by producing accurate and relevant financial information widely available on a timely basis.  Taxpayers must be able to see how their tax dollars are being invested. 

 ·    Finally, we must always remember that the ultimate purpose of the School system is to educate the leaders of tomorrow. 

 I am asking for your support and your vote on Thursday, May 10.

 Thank you for your consideration,

 Bob Simmons