Julia Held Julia Held

First, thank you for taking the time to be an informed voter. Jamestown is truly a special place, and that is due largely to its citizens. I have lived here with my husband, Randy White, since 1980, and our three children all attended the Jamestown schools. My experiences and observations in various school-related roles over a 15-year period led me to run for School Committee in 2005.

I am seeking re-election because I feel I can make a positive difference as Jamestown and its school work through some very challenging times. I believe strongly in the important mission of our public schools. Educating our children effectively for this increasingly complex, changeable world is of vital interest to our community and our country. I feel that my dedication and experience make me an effective member of a team that is working diligently to fulfill that mission and to overcome the obstacles we encounter along the way.

Catherine L. Kaiser The Jamestown School has wonderful students, a dedicated and capable faculty and staff, and leadership focused on excellence. As a taxpayer, I insist that our schools be managed efficiently and well, and that our necessary pursuit of improvement continues to include thorough evaluations of how best to utilize our resources as we adapt to fiscal realities. I have innate curiosity, a strong dose of common sense, and I value resourcefulness. My professional background in research and science teaching leads me to the objective analysis of all issues.

My term on the School Committee has given me a clear picture of the challenges facing public education, and I am committed to working hard on behalf of the present and future citizens of Jamestown. I think I have made useful contributions thus far, and I hope that you will support my effort to continue serving you.

Dana Long Catherine L. Kaiser

The cost of sustaining highperforming schools remains the greatest challenge facing the School Committee. The economic outlook for Rhode Island school districts is bleak … and getting bleaker. The School Com- mittee has approached the current downturn as an opportunity to increase efficiency in order to position ourselves to emerge from the recession in a stronger position – both financially and academically. I am running for a third term because I would like to continue to be part of this crucial ongoing effort.

Our greatest cost – and unquestionably our greatest asset – is our personnel. Recent negotiations with our support staff union produced greater efficiencies in the contract language. During the upcoming year, we will be going back to the bargaining table with our teachers union and will need to craft language that positions us to respond together to the problems that lay ahead. I have been a member of the negotiating team for the last two teacher contracts and would like the opportunity to return to the table at this critical juncture.

Sav Rebecchi As School Committee chair for the past eight years, I have actively promoted an education agenda at the State House. I testify regularly on issues important to Jamestown and have served on several legislative study commissions. I am also a member of the executive board of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees. It is more important now than ever for Jamestown schools to have a voice at the state level. I enjoy the role (and know all the free parking spots around the State House).

The next few years won’t be easy ones. In sailing terms, there are rough waters ahead. The key to maintaining control of the “boat” is to keep it moving forward.

Dana Long

I chose to run for School Committee to get connected to and contribute to this wonderful community of Jamestown. Over the past eight years of living in Jamestown, I have held global business positions that required frequent travel. This, coupled with my board of directors commitment to a global charity, has given me a solid background that I believe will make a difference. In April of this year, I took on a new role leading a transformation and change project in human resources for my organization, which has reduced my need to travel. Additionally, my children entered Melrose kindergarten this year and I decided it was time to focus time and energy on local rather than global children’s issues.

There is no more urgent time than now, with the challenging economic times and the variety of tough choices we all face, to utilize my experience and energy to represent Jamestown taxpayers by participating on the School Committee. The school budget has significant impact on the overall town budget and I believe it is imperative to leverage advanced business approaches such as Lean Six Sigma, or other analysis methods, to make diffi cult decisions to improve processes and cut waste where possible.

I am ready and able to focus my experience and energy to support the Jamestown school system in the critical mission of ensuring high-quality education for the community. Given the great importance of education and the difficult times we face, I feel that there must be careful and thoughtful review of each budgetary and policy issue – not accepting status quo on any point. We need to acknowledge the hard facts of the current fiscal times we are in, but allow our passion and dedication to drive the best outcomes for our children.

Sav Rebecchi

Over the year of attending Town Council meetings, I can attest that the one constant for every council has been frustration over rising school expenditures because it represents 60% of the town’s budget and the council has no line-item scrutiny.

Since the 2006 reported expenditures of $10,635,366, the school budget has increased $1,896,547, nearly 18%, even after eliminating several classrooms.

Unfunded mandates, contractual obligations and insurance increases are just a few of the complex issues that put pressure on prudent fiscal management.

I believe things could be much worse if it wasn’t for the dedicated, hardworking and achievement oriented School Committee members.

Committee Chair Cathy Kaiser has worked diligently to face challenges and fosters an environment that’s open to all points of view, ideas and suggestions.

The other members enthusiastically contribute their diverse knowledge and backgrounds to the duties required and work many additional hours beyond their regular bi-monthly meetings.

One member I identify with refers to himself as “the odd man out.” He’s worked faithfully and some say fearlessly, to represent the conservative point of view.

I’m speaking of Bucky Brennan, who, unfortunately, is not seeking another term. His voice will be surely missed and his years of service are greatly appreciated.

For myself, I am at the end of my second three-year term serving Jamestown as a board member of the Quonset Development Corporation. It’s been a memorable and rewarding experience.

I’ve especially enjoyed working with other board members from all areas of expertise who share the common goal of doing the best for the people we serve.

Being part of QDC’s corroborative environment is the reason I’m seeking to continue my service to Jamestown as a member of the School Committee.

I’m confident that my 35 years as a business owner will add another dimension of experience to help with the challenging financial times ahead.

In business we seek to get the “best bang for our bucks.” As a School Committee member, I will work to insure we are getting the best for our students in the most cost efficient way.