Patch Candidate Profiles: Robert Weiner, Hamilton-Wenham School Committee

HAMILTON-WENHAM, MA – When you vote on Thursday, April 6, at the annual town election, know your candidates. Patch is gathering these Q&As for those running for open seats on the Hamilton-Wenham School Committee.

Name, as it will appear on the ballot: Robert D. Weiner

Age: 52

Hometown: Hamilton

Position running for: School Committee, one year term

Party affiliation: Independent

Education: B.A. from The University of New York at Binghamton. Post-graduate courses in financial management, computer languages and databases.

Work history: Twelve years as a business and technology manager at Clean Harbors, Inc., an environmental services company. Twelve years as a financial analyst and computer programming supervisor at Loomis, Sayles and Company, LLC, a financial investment company.

Volunteer history: Three years as computer skills trainer at the Boston homeless shelter on Long Island. Four years as assistant volleyball coach for the Hamilton-Wenham High School.

Have you run before? If so, when?: This is my first run for elected office.

Why did you decide to run?: I have the skills, background, and ideas that I believe will help make the school system better. I feel strongly that an excellent school system is a vital part of a community. I also have the time to do the work that is involved with being a member of the school committee, which is important for this busy committee.

What do you hope to accomplish in this position?: I hope to work with the members of the school committee to make strategic decisions which will improve the School District’s performance. The district has several major challenges at present: buildings with maintenance needs, athletic fields that are in poor condition, and shifting demographics. I hope to bring my management, financial and analytical background to the school committee to resolve these issues without breaking the bank to do so. I would like to see the user fees for sports and clubs rolled back substantially. I would also like to improve communication between the school committee and the parents in this district. As I have talked with people in the community they have expressed many good ideas. I would like to open a channel to keep those ideas coming in.

What should constituents know about you?: I have been living in Hamilton for seventeen years and I think that Hamilton and Wenham are fantastic towns. My wife Ann and I had two sons graduate from Hamilton-Wenham High School and those educations were great foundations for their success in the world. I also have been volunteering as an assistant coach at the high school for four years and have become friends of many of the parents in the district (Go Generals!). I believe strongly that the two keys to an exceptional school are great teachers and opportunities to explore other interests: art, theatre, athletics, etc. I would like to work with the superintendent to focus on attracting, empowering and retaining excellent teachers, as well as providing extracurricular activities that will enrich the students’ lives. I am excited and optimistic about the possibility of making positive changes for the students in our towns.