Victor Lee

Questions and Answers

Question 1: What prompted you to run for School Committee? Was your motivation to run for office prompted by an issue that has personal resonance for you or your neighborhood?

I'm running to: a) restore the academic excellence and rigor of NPS so every child can thrive; b) improve the funding for our schools; and c) repair the conditions that led to a divisive illegal strike two years ago. I believe decisions need to be data-driven, as well as centered on student outcomes and what is best for our children. Educators and staff also need to be respected, empowered, and supported to be able to do their best work on behalf of our kids. I was one of the first to express concern about mixed-level classrooms, to advocate for Level Services Plus funding of NPS last year, and to decry the 11-day strike as lose-lose.

Question 2: What is your understanding of the role of the School Committee in the operations of Newton Public Schools?

The School Committee has five core responsibilities: a) hire and manage the superintendent; b) approve and oversee the NPS budget; c) establish district-wide goals and policy; d) negotiate on behalf of NPS with the unions; and e) represent the voice of Newtonians. The School Committee should not micro-manage day-to-day operations. I am uniquely qualified having: a) advised numerous superintendents; b) developed and managed budgets of the size of NPS's; c) set district-wide policies for multiple districts; d) stayed independent of the unions - unlike my MTA committee chair opponent; and e) personally knocked on the most doors of Newtonians.

Question 3: How do you define educational excellence in the Newton Public Schools?

Educational excellence is about providing every student with the opportunities and academic rigor to reach their full potential and thrive. It is about preparing our students to be successful in college or other career and vocational paths. It is about developing our children into responsible, ethical, and empathetic citizens with critical thinking and 21st century skills. We need SMART goals and objectives and the appropriate measures, assessments, and data to ensure we are on track in achieving this educational excellence. NPS was once considered to be among the best districts in the nation. Let's re-earn that reputation!

Question 4: In tight budget years, how would you prioritize funding allocations with respect to class sizes; funding of music, arts and languages; breadth of programming at the high schools; student’s mental health; and competitive salaries for teachers and staff? What other budget priorities do you think are important?

We should first explore funding improvements by: a) advocating to the State for updated/improved Chapter 70 allocations and circuit breaker reimbursements for Special Education (I've already started this); b) discussing with Newtonians the possibility of a Proposition 2 1/2 override and what we would get for that investment in our schools; and c) revisit the pension liability payoff timetable in partnership with the Retirement Board. My funding priorities include improved access to advanced ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies coursework; expansion of MTSS and SpEd support; targeted interventions; and better data insights and analytics.