Want a quick overview of what I'm about? Read this profile from the Beacon-Villager!
http://bolton.wickedlocal.com/news/20180419/elaine-sanfilippo-candidate-for-nashoba-school-committee-will-work-full-time
http://bolton.wickedlocal.com/news/20180419/elaine-sanfilippo-candidate-for-nashoba-school-committee-will-work-full-time
Looking to read my Letters of Recommendation, printed in the Stow Independent? Click here!
Official Candidacy Announcement
Note: This announcement is also in the April 4th edition of the Stow Independent under "Letters to the Editor".
My name is Elaine Sanfilippo, and I am officially announcing my candidacy for Nashoba Regional School Committee. I grew up not far from Stow, in Leominster, where both of my parents were public school teachers., Nashoba has long been known for having some of the top area schools. From the staff, to the athletics, to the success of the students themselves, the Nashoba name has had a strong presence, and I want to help ensure that our schools uphold this into the future.
At the end of the day, everyone who cares about our schools wants the same thing: to educate our children and foster their long-term success. I am a passionate believer in public education, and vow to always keep the best interests of our students, staff and community at the heart of every decision. I have the ability to see the big picture, and the dedication to get into the smallest details. My own education (Biomedical Engineering from WPI, MBA from MIT) provides a strong foundation for understanding how to prepare students for a changing world while operating within the financial constraints districts face every year.
As a parent of some of our youngest students I would bring a unique perspective to the School Committee. My children, ages three and one, will be a part of NRSD for the next 18+ years. I am also a taxpayer who wants our tax dollars used as efficiently as possible. Only with a strong vision for our schools can we direct our priorities and ultimately our funds. Every dollar should directly connect back to our long-term vision, ensuring we use every available dollar effectively. As a School Committee member, I will balance all perspectives, and I will prioritize the long-term health of our schools and finances.
I applaud the School Committee’s initiative, in recent years, to increase transparency with town government. I will absolutely continue that initiative, and build on it to include increased transparency and communication with the town at large. Our district is doing extensive, innovative work at all levels, and the public should hear more about it. I also feel that we need to truly listen to the community about their concerns, ideas, wants and needs. I vow to be a voice for the community in that regard, and look forward to contributing to a collaborative environment in our district.
It would be an honor, and privilege, to be elected as a steward of public education in our district. I am available, any time, to hear your concerns, questions, or ideas. Please say hello if you see me around town, or email me at [email protected]. You can read more about my qualifications and positions at www.ElaineFromStow.com. Thank you for your consideration, and, if your vision for NRSD aligns with mine, I ask for your vote on May 15th.
Your neighbor,
Elaine Sanfilippo
My name is Elaine Sanfilippo, and I am officially announcing my candidacy for Nashoba Regional School Committee. I grew up not far from Stow, in Leominster, where both of my parents were public school teachers., Nashoba has long been known for having some of the top area schools. From the staff, to the athletics, to the success of the students themselves, the Nashoba name has had a strong presence, and I want to help ensure that our schools uphold this into the future.
At the end of the day, everyone who cares about our schools wants the same thing: to educate our children and foster their long-term success. I am a passionate believer in public education, and vow to always keep the best interests of our students, staff and community at the heart of every decision. I have the ability to see the big picture, and the dedication to get into the smallest details. My own education (Biomedical Engineering from WPI, MBA from MIT) provides a strong foundation for understanding how to prepare students for a changing world while operating within the financial constraints districts face every year.
As a parent of some of our youngest students I would bring a unique perspective to the School Committee. My children, ages three and one, will be a part of NRSD for the next 18+ years. I am also a taxpayer who wants our tax dollars used as efficiently as possible. Only with a strong vision for our schools can we direct our priorities and ultimately our funds. Every dollar should directly connect back to our long-term vision, ensuring we use every available dollar effectively. As a School Committee member, I will balance all perspectives, and I will prioritize the long-term health of our schools and finances.
I applaud the School Committee’s initiative, in recent years, to increase transparency with town government. I will absolutely continue that initiative, and build on it to include increased transparency and communication with the town at large. Our district is doing extensive, innovative work at all levels, and the public should hear more about it. I also feel that we need to truly listen to the community about their concerns, ideas, wants and needs. I vow to be a voice for the community in that regard, and look forward to contributing to a collaborative environment in our district.
It would be an honor, and privilege, to be elected as a steward of public education in our district. I am available, any time, to hear your concerns, questions, or ideas. Please say hello if you see me around town, or email me at [email protected]. You can read more about my qualifications and positions at www.ElaineFromStow.com. Thank you for your consideration, and, if your vision for NRSD aligns with mine, I ask for your vote on May 15th.
Your neighbor,
Elaine Sanfilippo
Frequently Asked Questions
What are your priorities if elected?
· Increase communication & involvement to create true partnership with community
· Stabilize long-term fiscal health
· Create strong vision for the future to direct priorities & budget
What difference can you make on Day 1?
Communication & Partnership. On Day 1, I commit to:
- Holding monthly office hours where any member of the community can come and ask questions, tell me their concerns or update me on anything they think I should know about
- Responding to emails within 48 hours. It may only be able to say "I hear you, and I'll work on it", but being responsive is very important to me in building that partnership with the community
- Being present in the schools. Not for purposes of evaluating or judging, but merely to see things first-hand. I will attend as many events as I can, and hope to work out a regular meeting schedule with administration and teachers. I will also reach out to community members proactively by attending community events, volunteering and proactively reaching out to get different perspectives on issues
Long-term fiscal health. On Day 1, I commit to:
- Requesting 10-year (or more) projections from each department. If none exists, working with leadership and the Budget Subcommittee to develop those plans with the goal of developing a complete picture of predictable expenses. We will never be able to predict every future expense, and best practices change over time, but we can be a lot more more prepared than we are currently. This exercise also helps get us into a routine of long-term strategic planning
Vision. On Day 1, I commit to:
- Reviewing the District Improvement Plan (DIP) and School Improvement Plans (SIP) and probing leadership as to how each action aligns directly with our current vision. These plans are currently in development for the next year, and if not complete by the time of the election, I look forward to using my experience helping companies define and clarify their own visions to help the district great DIP and SIP goals that are as strong, coherent and actionable as possible
- Recommending that during the School Committee's annual goal-setting workshop in June, we conduct an exercise in long-term strategic planning. There are many frameworks for doing this. They all include methods to clarify exactly what an individual's priorities are, and how we develop a shared vision based on that. I would ask an independent facilitator to conduct this exercise (and I can recommend a few good ones!) and share our results with the community
· Increase communication & involvement to create true partnership with community
· Stabilize long-term fiscal health
· Create strong vision for the future to direct priorities & budget
What difference can you make on Day 1?
Communication & Partnership. On Day 1, I commit to:
- Holding monthly office hours where any member of the community can come and ask questions, tell me their concerns or update me on anything they think I should know about
- Responding to emails within 48 hours. It may only be able to say "I hear you, and I'll work on it", but being responsive is very important to me in building that partnership with the community
- Being present in the schools. Not for purposes of evaluating or judging, but merely to see things first-hand. I will attend as many events as I can, and hope to work out a regular meeting schedule with administration and teachers. I will also reach out to community members proactively by attending community events, volunteering and proactively reaching out to get different perspectives on issues
Long-term fiscal health. On Day 1, I commit to:
- Requesting 10-year (or more) projections from each department. If none exists, working with leadership and the Budget Subcommittee to develop those plans with the goal of developing a complete picture of predictable expenses. We will never be able to predict every future expense, and best practices change over time, but we can be a lot more more prepared than we are currently. This exercise also helps get us into a routine of long-term strategic planning
Vision. On Day 1, I commit to:
- Reviewing the District Improvement Plan (DIP) and School Improvement Plans (SIP) and probing leadership as to how each action aligns directly with our current vision. These plans are currently in development for the next year, and if not complete by the time of the election, I look forward to using my experience helping companies define and clarify their own visions to help the district great DIP and SIP goals that are as strong, coherent and actionable as possible
- Recommending that during the School Committee's annual goal-setting workshop in June, we conduct an exercise in long-term strategic planning. There are many frameworks for doing this. They all include methods to clarify exactly what an individual's priorities are, and how we develop a shared vision based on that. I would ask an independent facilitator to conduct this exercise (and I can recommend a few good ones!) and share our results with the community
Why are you running?
I believe there is more we can do to prepare students for productive, healthy and happy lives!
I don’t see this as a political role. I am not a politician. I am stepping up to volunteer to better my community. I started volunteering when I was a kid at animal shelters, and it’s a big part of my life. Now that I am choosing to raise my family in Stow, it makes sense to me to volunteer here in the community that is giving so much to my family.
I believe there is more we can do to prepare students for productive, healthy and happy lives!
I don’t see this as a political role. I am not a politician. I am stepping up to volunteer to better my community. I started volunteering when I was a kid at animal shelters, and it’s a big part of my life. Now that I am choosing to raise my family in Stow, it makes sense to me to volunteer here in the community that is giving so much to my family.
What are your qualifications?
- Parent of two children (one currently in PreK at Center School)
- MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management. Well-versed in finance, economics, project management, strategic planning, negotiations and marketing
- Biomedical Engineering Degree from WPI. I understand the importance of STEAM disciplines and how they will play a critical role in future economy
- Spent most of my career helping companies define, clarify and execute on their missions. I use data and numbers to support decision-making, and have been accountable for multi-million dollar budgets
- Started two companies by bootstrapping and using my own funds, including one helping animal rescue organizations
- Served on non-profit Board of Directors helping women and children in Kenya 2010-2014
- Active member of the community, with a passion for listening, communicating and connecting
I want to keep my taxes as low as possible. How will you help as a member of the school committee?
No one likes paying taxes. Myself included! There's three main things we can do, within the School Committee, to minimize residents' tax burden.
- Use our money efficiently. Every dollar spent should have a clear connection to one of the district's core values. If there's not a strong case for how a budget request aligns with our goals, it shouldn't be funded. That's why it is so important to have a strong vision and clear, defined goals
- Start thinking long-term. We need to address and plan for long-term financial stability. Only then we can be the most efficient with our funds. I completely understand how hard it is to make ends meet in any given year, but kicking the can to a future year because "we just don't have the money" doesn't make the expenses go away
- Start looking for "free" money. We need to get creative and search for non-tax-based funds wherever we can. Grants, government programs, partnerships, everything. A great example is the volunteer program NRSD undertook for water testing at The Center School and Hale. We gained valuable information about the safety and quality of our water systems and it was completely free
No one likes paying taxes. Myself included! There's three main things we can do, within the School Committee, to minimize residents' tax burden.
- Use our money efficiently. Every dollar spent should have a clear connection to one of the district's core values. If there's not a strong case for how a budget request aligns with our goals, it shouldn't be funded. That's why it is so important to have a strong vision and clear, defined goals
- Start thinking long-term. We need to address and plan for long-term financial stability. Only then we can be the most efficient with our funds. I completely understand how hard it is to make ends meet in any given year, but kicking the can to a future year because "we just don't have the money" doesn't make the expenses go away
- Start looking for "free" money. We need to get creative and search for non-tax-based funds wherever we can. Grants, government programs, partnerships, everything. A great example is the volunteer program NRSD undertook for water testing at The Center School and Hale. We gained valuable information about the safety and quality of our water systems and it was completely free
What is your vision for the future of education?
That's a big, but fair, question! Obviously, one person doesn't have all the answers. The vision for the future of our schools, and our community, is a group effort that comes out of listening to the perspectives of everyone involved. I hope my ideas serve as a jumping off point for discussion, and help to solidify a firm commitment to clarifying the vision for the future of our schools.
I believe in a holistic approach to education, and that we have a responsibility to prepare our students holistically for productive, health and happy lives. You've probably heard of Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic - the "3Rs". They are the foundation of learning in education. Yet in today's new world we need to teach our students even more. Here are my ideas for a new "3Rs":
- Respect. It is vital that students, faculty, staff, parents, administration and the entire community operate in an environment of mutual respect. Our national discourse may have turned negative, but we need to teach, and role model, how to live and act with civility. Basically, be kind to one another! In a broader sense, we also need to respect that children are still children and their social, emotional and physical health needs are just as important as academic achievement
- Resiliency. I believe in the "growth mindset" philosophy. But more specifically, I believe it is vital to prepare our students for a future economy that will change faster and in larger ways than anything we have seen in the past. Just think about cell phones. I got my first phone in 2006, and it didn't even include the Internet. Only ten years later the cell phone has revolutionized the way we work and live. Teaching students to be comfortable with growth, change, failure and adaptation will be key to their success
- Relationships. We are more connected than ever before. Yet there are more and more jobs being outsourced or done by machines. We need to prepare our students for a future where the soft skills of interpersonal communication, influencing and sales (among others) will be key to building successful careers. Beyond, relationships are also a key part of the social, emotional and health needs that I described above and help provide balance in a world where everything feels high-stakes and urgent
That's a big, but fair, question! Obviously, one person doesn't have all the answers. The vision for the future of our schools, and our community, is a group effort that comes out of listening to the perspectives of everyone involved. I hope my ideas serve as a jumping off point for discussion, and help to solidify a firm commitment to clarifying the vision for the future of our schools.
I believe in a holistic approach to education, and that we have a responsibility to prepare our students holistically for productive, health and happy lives. You've probably heard of Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic - the "3Rs". They are the foundation of learning in education. Yet in today's new world we need to teach our students even more. Here are my ideas for a new "3Rs":
- Respect. It is vital that students, faculty, staff, parents, administration and the entire community operate in an environment of mutual respect. Our national discourse may have turned negative, but we need to teach, and role model, how to live and act with civility. Basically, be kind to one another! In a broader sense, we also need to respect that children are still children and their social, emotional and physical health needs are just as important as academic achievement
- Resiliency. I believe in the "growth mindset" philosophy. But more specifically, I believe it is vital to prepare our students for a future economy that will change faster and in larger ways than anything we have seen in the past. Just think about cell phones. I got my first phone in 2006, and it didn't even include the Internet. Only ten years later the cell phone has revolutionized the way we work and live. Teaching students to be comfortable with growth, change, failure and adaptation will be key to their success
- Relationships. We are more connected than ever before. Yet there are more and more jobs being outsourced or done by machines. We need to prepare our students for a future where the soft skills of interpersonal communication, influencing and sales (among others) will be key to building successful careers. Beyond, relationships are also a key part of the social, emotional and health needs that I described above and help provide balance in a world where everything feels high-stakes and urgent
Do we need a new high school? That sounds expensive!
The question really isn't, "Do we need a new high school?" The question I would ask is, "How do we plan for maintenance and updates?" The administrators, staff, faculty and students at NRHS are doing the best they can with what they have at the moment. I applaud them for that. Still, buildings age. Roof leaks (we've already removed mold), lack of insulation (students wear jackets in some classrooms in winter) and inefficient infrastructure (heat runs full-blast at night in winter or else pipes freeze) don't fix themselves. We are spending a lot of money on patches that do nothing to solve the underlying issues. I believe we need a comprehensive plan for repairing and renovating. And let me be clear, I'm not talking about luxury accommodations. I'm talking about the basics like roofs, heating, and windows. When this was done at Minuteman, they discovered it would be more cost effective to build an entirely new school. I hope that is not the case at NRHS but we need to find out. Then, we can plan our expenditures over a period of time to absorb costs and minimize any disruption to town budgets. I appreciate that the School Committee submitted a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the MSBA (Mass School Building Authority), which would unlock "free" state funds for renovation and expansion.
Here's some statistics (from the Building Systems portion of the High School Space Task Force Report):
- Built in 1961. Last building renovation in 2002
- Newest science labs built in 1970. Science classes were cut because the space and equipment couldn't handle the curriculum
- Cafeteria overcrowding was so bad not every student can sit down! So classes are scheduled based on extra lunch periods instead of curriculum needs
It's true that Concord built a new high school at a total cost of $100M. We are not Concord. We shouldn't try to be Concord. We should evaluate our needs and determine the cost based on that alone. Let's make a plan now, so can create healthy long-term finances for our district. Finally, the state and federal government do help with the cost of various projects. The Center School project received 45% reimbursement from the state. 45%! That "free money" comes from a finite pool of funds. If we wait too long, we risk letting "free money" pass us by, and the tax payers will on the hook for the entirety of any renovations in the future. I completely understand being skeptical of large-scale capital expenditures. But we need SOME plan, because the underlying maintenance problems won't go away.
The question really isn't, "Do we need a new high school?" The question I would ask is, "How do we plan for maintenance and updates?" The administrators, staff, faculty and students at NRHS are doing the best they can with what they have at the moment. I applaud them for that. Still, buildings age. Roof leaks (we've already removed mold), lack of insulation (students wear jackets in some classrooms in winter) and inefficient infrastructure (heat runs full-blast at night in winter or else pipes freeze) don't fix themselves. We are spending a lot of money on patches that do nothing to solve the underlying issues. I believe we need a comprehensive plan for repairing and renovating. And let me be clear, I'm not talking about luxury accommodations. I'm talking about the basics like roofs, heating, and windows. When this was done at Minuteman, they discovered it would be more cost effective to build an entirely new school. I hope that is not the case at NRHS but we need to find out. Then, we can plan our expenditures over a period of time to absorb costs and minimize any disruption to town budgets. I appreciate that the School Committee submitted a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the MSBA (Mass School Building Authority), which would unlock "free" state funds for renovation and expansion.
Here's some statistics (from the Building Systems portion of the High School Space Task Force Report):
- Built in 1961. Last building renovation in 2002
- Newest science labs built in 1970. Science classes were cut because the space and equipment couldn't handle the curriculum
- Cafeteria overcrowding was so bad not every student can sit down! So classes are scheduled based on extra lunch periods instead of curriculum needs
It's true that Concord built a new high school at a total cost of $100M. We are not Concord. We shouldn't try to be Concord. We should evaluate our needs and determine the cost based on that alone. Let's make a plan now, so can create healthy long-term finances for our district. Finally, the state and federal government do help with the cost of various projects. The Center School project received 45% reimbursement from the state. 45%! That "free money" comes from a finite pool of funds. If we wait too long, we risk letting "free money" pass us by, and the tax payers will on the hook for the entirety of any renovations in the future. I completely understand being skeptical of large-scale capital expenditures. But we need SOME plan, because the underlying maintenance problems won't go away.
