What one big idea or initiative would you champion?

Leading up to the November 4 local election, the Newton Beacon asked non-incumbent candidates and candidates in competitive elections:

What one big idea or initiative would you champion, once elected?

Jason Bhardwaj, School Committee Candidate, Ward 3: Strong support for Newton’s neighborhood schools is a consistent theme in my conversations, including long-time residents impacted by past closures. I identify with that – we really began developing connections in our neighborhood when my eldest started at NPS. So, I believe the bar for whether “data supports” change in the school footprint is very high. When addressing facility needs at Ward and Underwood, I believe we should start, alongside city council, with “problem-solving” across 3 key issues: (a) capital, (b) ongoing cost, and (c) educational impact. For example, if we find solutions to a. (debt exclusion override) and b. (modest added cost for 2 schools vs. 1), then we should forecast conditions (e.g., enrollment, demographics) where the current footprint might be maintained without c. negative educational impacts (e.g., challenges from 1 class per grade). IF a very high bar were met, then an equally high bar should be set for community discussion, input, and notification.

Mali Brodt, School Committee Candidate, Ward 6: I support an initiative focused on fostering student belonging by creating a school culture where every student feels safe, respected, and included. This means implementing proactive, comprehensive anti-bullying programs that teach empathy and conflict resolution before problems arise. Social-emotional learning and support are key—helping students develop self-awareness, manage emotions, and build positive relationships. We must prioritize a positive climate by training staff and students on inclusion and equity, and by intentionally bringing diverse voices to the table—including students, families, and educators—to shape policies and practices. Encouraging multiple perspectives builds understanding and trust. When students feel connected and valued, their engagement and joy in learning increase, improving academic and social outcomes. This initiative would ensure that our schools are places where all students thrive and feel empowered.

Christine Fisher, School Committee Candidate, Ward 2: I would champion a districtwide review and update of our technology policies. Significant work has already been done on cell phone policies, but families, teachers, and students continue to raise questions about screen time, devices in classrooms, and the use of AI. The policy should address not only how students use AI, but also how staff and administration use it responsibly. AI can be a powerful tool for learning and administrative efficiency, but it must be implemented thoughtfully, with safeguards to protect student learning and privacy. The School Committee’s role is to set clear, consistent policies that reflect community values and support outcomes. With careful guidance, we can maximize benefits, minimize risks, and prepare students for a digital future while keeping learning at the center.

Maria Scibelli Greenberg, City Council Candidate, Ward 1: Over my tenure as the Ward Councilor for Ward 1, I have secured $400,000 of State funds from our State Representatives and Senator for Nonantum and Newton Corner projects including Spears Community Garden, Pellegrini Field House improvements, Farlow Pond repairs, sidewalk and accessible ramp improvements at Underwood School, and new tree plantings. In my next term I will continue to advocate for funding to support Burr Park, which is in desperate need of new playground equipment, a refurbished basketball court, and tennis court improvements. I plan to include upgrades to Pellegrini and Stearns playgrounds. In addition to pursuing state earmarks, I will work with Commissioner Banks to obtain CPA funding.

Julie Irish, City Council Candidate, Ward 5: My big idea is to create a Newton Village Renewal Fund dedicated to strengthening our 13 village centers. Newton’s villages are the heart of our community, but many face challenges like vacant storefronts, rising rents, and limited foot traffic. This fund would support small businesses with startup grants or low-interest loans, help improve storefronts and invest in public space upgrades such as outdoor seating, trees, and safer crosswalks. It could also back community events, public art, and cultural programming that bring people together and make each village a destination. The fund could be supported through a mix of city investment, state and federal grants, and public-private partnerships so the burden doesn’t fall on taxpayers alone. Most importantly, resident voices must be central in planning so each village reflects the needs and character of its neighborhood.

Marc Laredo, Mayoral Candidate: Municipal government is about the basics: top notch schools; maintaining streets and sidewalks; and making sure that the trash is picked up, the streets are plowed after a snowstorm, and police and fire respond when needed. But a great city – and Newton is a great city – goes beyond the basics by providing robust arts and culture; well-maintained athletic fields, playgrounds, recreational facilities, and open spaces; and exciting programs for all age groups. Every single day we will strive to deliver excellent services, provide outstanding customer service, and promote a sense of community among the residents of Newton.

Victor Lee, School Committee Candidate, Ward 8: NPS spends a significant amount of money on Special Education (SpEd), and rightfully so. However, current Chapter 70 formulas and circuit breaker reimbursements are not keeping up with the change in the complexity of needs and growth in SpEd that NPS is experiencing. We should not be getting back only around 47% of our dollars spent for SpEd transportation and around 75% for SpEd instruction. I want the School Committee, union, City Council, and the Mayor to partner with our State Representatives – and potentially other districts – to advocate for reimbursements that better reflect the reality of NPS today. If we can work together on this important initiative, I believe we can put our budget in a better position and improve relationships across the board that will make collective bargaining for the next union contracts a less stressful process for all. This won’t be easy, but it is feasible and actionable. I’ve already taken initial steps and begun building the necessary relationships.

Jenna Lauter Miara, School Committee Candidate, Ward 5: Digital health and balance has been a top priority since the beginning of my campaign. Step one is an effective K-12 policy that makes cell phones physically inaccessible to students while they are at school, with reasonable accommodations as needed. Removing phones from school frees students to learn, explore, socialize, and grow – while also reducing classroom disruptions and strain on teacher-student relationships. This change will be a major adjustment for all of us but it’s in our students’ best interest, it’s supported by research, and it will improve academic and social-emotional outcomes. Thoughtful and rigorous implementation will be critical. That includes meaningful engagement with students, families, and educators, clear expectations and procedures, strong administrative support, and consistent enforcement. It will also be important to clearly communicate schools’ emergency procedures so students feel safe, and to provide alternatives for student-caregiver communications.

Garry Miller, City Council Candidate, Ward 5: We really need to revamp our city website to make information more readily available. Far too much information is not available there or if it is, it’s only accessible via a PDF. This makes finding out what is going on in the city far too difficult for the average citizen.

Jim Murphy, School Committee Candidate, Ward 8: I have two: The first is to discuss NPS’s public health response to what the Trump administration is doing to medical research, vaccines, and preparedness. That way, if we find ourselves in another public health emergency, I believe we’ll can all be on the same page. The second is making the NPS Portrait of a Graduate the nexus of our policy-making and planning. It lays out a good picture of what graduates should take with them. However, I don’t much see it in the long-range plan that was recently passed. I know the long-range plan will shape policy, but I’m not as convinced the Portrait will have as much clout. Now that MCAS will no longer be required for graduation, there is work being done to come up with new requirements. As of now, that work includes a portrait of a learner. If we advocate for this effort, it could allow NPS to really put its Portrait at the center of teaching and learning. I’m already involved in this at the state level and would champion it here as well.

Alicia Piedalue, School Committee Candidate, Ward 7: I’d love to see us take steps to implement Universal Pre-K. The research shows that quality preschool is great for kids and for working families. In Newton, it would also do two important things: Opening even a handful of new preschool classrooms would immediately shore up enrollment (which is something we need to consider in any discussion of enrollment-based school closures). And, having kids start in NPS at age 4, which is the age at which many area private schools begin enrolling, would likely capture some of those kids who start private earlier because it’s available and then never shift to public schools. We also need to do a review of our special education programs and our inclusion models. I don’t think we fully understand the interplay between different special education models, our MTSS work, and their budget implications. Given the complexity and cost of special education we need to look hard at whether we can make adjustments to do better.

Arrianna Proia, School Committee Candidate, Ward 1: One major initiative I would champion is expanding Newton’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). MTSS ensures that schools use data-driven decision making, progress monitoring, and evidence-based strategies to sustain student growth. It is not just about interventions, but about how all systems in a school fit together to provide high-quality education for all students. Where MTSS has already been implemented in Newton, it has proven successful in supporting students’ academic and social-emotional needs. Expanding this framework citywide would help ensure every student gets the right support at the right time, while also creating the capacity to expand access to AP and honors courses so advanced students are not capped but challenged. Every child in Newton deserves both strong support and the opportunity to excel, and expanding MTSS is the pathway to making that a reality.

Ben Schlesinger, School Committee Candidate, Ward 5: The biggest thing I can do is help restore trust. Trust between NPS and educators, NPS and parents, educators and parents. That means doing a lot of empathetic listening to a lot of stakeholders, to understand all the causes of the trust deficit we’ve built over the last few years. And it means communicating very openly about what the schools are doing, why they are doing it, why it’s a good thing. This is not an executive position, it’s an oversight position. But in addition to doing the core work like building trust, I will advocate for a deeper strategy on AI. Educators are rightfully concerned about the impact AI is having on their students and we should all be paying attention. How can we teach students to use AI as a lever and not a crutch? How can we prepare them to enter a world where AI will have changed jobs like the PC did 30 years ago? We should also think about how AI can help our educators by lightening their workloads and freeing time to focus on impacting students.

Jacob Silber, City Council Candidate, Ward 8 At-Large: Improve communication systems and access to communication systems between elected officials, city staff and residents regarding important issues. It’s currently too hard to contact residents about hyperlocal events.

Linda Swain, School Committee Candidate, Ward 2 One initiative I would champion if elected is expanding the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). Many parents have shared concerns that their children aren’t always getting the right level of challenge or support. MTSS helps NPS provide each student with what they need at the right time—greater challenge for some, extra help for others—so all students can reach their full potential. The new Math Pathways program, announced this fall and set to launch in the 2026–2027 school year, is a strong example. It offers enrichment when a student is ready for more, timely support when they’re struggling, and flexibility to move between pathways as they grow. I’m excited for its implementation and believe we should bring this approach to other areas. In the long run, a strong MTSS system benefits students and helps the district use resources more efficiently, saving money while keeping kids at the center of decision-making.