Jeff Baron Candidate's Statement

My name is Jeff Baron and I am running for School Committee again in the April 7th election. I have two young children and am an active part of their experience in the Wayland Public Schools. I have also enjoyed serving in our local government. I have chaired the Dog Control Appeals Board, a town committee, since its inception eight years ago. I also served on the Cable Committee during the renegotiation of our contract with Comcast in 2000. Just last year, I became a commissioner with the WBSA, leading the T-Ball program and have moved on the head up Single A ball this Spring. My wife, Deb, is the President of the Wayland Children and Parents Association, sharing my commitment to the growth and experiences of children in our town. My role as a financial advisor, along with my experience as a management consultant, and my MBA from Cornell will allow me to help create an environment where we work within our means, but also explore creative alternatives. Fiscal responsibility must be achieved in our schools without asking the taxpayers to come up with additional money at every turn. The current and near-term economic climate demands accountability and detailed presentation, examination, and analyses of budgets, especially those that represent more than 2/3 of what we spend as a town. The School Committee should, however, be the loudest voices in support of our schools. Too often, decisions are made by our current School Committee absent fact-based decision making processes and without the best interests of our children in mind. I do not agree that the role of the School Committee is to blindly follow the advice of the Superintendent. As a member of the School Committee, I would seek to ask questions and demand answers. I would seek to gather and respond to suggestions from you – the community – who are too often left on the outside looking in and wondering why something happened the way it did. I see no other way to drive to widely supported conclusions. I'll be at both the WayCam call-in show and in-person at the Candidates' Night the previous evening. I encourage all residents to participate in these events and be a part of the process. I also invite you to visit my website (www.jeffreysbaron.com) to learn more about me. In closing, I would encourage all voters to reflect on the recent past. Do you feel that we are better off today as a school community than we were one, two or even three years ago? If so, put incumbents back in their chairs and continue the status quo. If you feel differently, consider that fresh eyes, financial acumen, and a willingness to question everything we have come to accept as normal must have a place at the table. I ask you to vote for change, I ask for your vote. There are many issues facing our School Committee and our town in the upcoming months and years. Help me to restore the community’s faith in our School Committee and push forward an agenda to restore and improve upon the jewel of Wayland. It is in all of our best interests to work together to achieve this goal.