1) In the Melrose public school system, Black students are suspended at higher rates than white students. Melrose has one of the highest rates of racial disparity in school discipline compared with 12 neighboring communities. How do you plan to eliminate racial inequities in school discipline? 

2) The Racial Justice Community Coalition has regularly heard from its members of color – and has regularly voiced to the school committee –– concerns about obstacles for working parents, and especially parents based in Boston, to being included in search screening committees for school administrators. In particular, the rule requiring in-person attendance for all committee meetings all but excludes METCO parents from inclusion. What is your understanding of the necessity of the in-person rule and, if elected, what would you do to ensure greater inclusion in the search committee process?

3) In the 2023 school year, as in years past, Melrose reported no Black teachers. This is a loss for all students, and is especially harmful for our Black students. Research shows that when Black students have Black teachers they are more likely to thrive academically and less likely to be suspended. What ideas do you have about recruiting and retaining Black teachers?

4) Participation fees in extracurricular activities, including sports, exclude lower income students and perpetuates systemic racism. Scholarship models that are sometimes proposed put students in the position of seeking charity and may reduce a sense of belonging.  Do you support eliminating  participation fees in extracurricular sports and activities?

5) How will you support our educators’ commitment to teaching true and accurate U.S. history regarding slavery, the Civil Rights movement, Jim Crow, red-lining, etc., if and when parents or political organizations pressure or attack individual educators for accurately teaching the history of our country with regard to race relations?