Charles Viola Announces Candidacy for Woburn School Committee

The following is a candacy announcement by Charles Viola for the School Committee in the 2013 Woburn Municipal Election:

As a proud lifelong resident of the West Side/ Ward 7 of Woburn, I am pleased to announce my candidacy for School Committee.

Woburn is the perfect place to live, work, and raise a family. I am running for School Committee because the City of Woburn needs a diligent advocate for students, parents and teachers. A child’s education is very important and we the Citizens of Woburn want to make sure that they have the very best education possible. A child must learn in a nurturing environment and not one that is out of date and has crowded classrooms. As the City of Woburn moves forward into the future with the educational system, we must make sure that there is parity between all schools. Parity is crucial to make sure that every child receives the same quality education.

A great School Committee member is a person who can work well with others, sharing a common goal, providing the children of Woburn the best education possible, which are all qualities that I possess. Other qualities that I will bring to the School Committee are commitment, integrity, and leadership. As a member of the Law Enforcement community I wish to bring my unique perspective to the School Committee as well. I also will bring my firsthand knowledge of safety and security to make sure that the children of Woburn are safe in our schools.

The School Budget is growing at a steady rate each and every year. One of the main issues that I wish to address is the Special Education Budget. The Special Education budget is never the same, and it is dramatically increasing every year. The state and federal government give money back to cities and towns to help offset the cost of Special Education; however these amounts of money never cover the complete costs. The City of Woburn needs to be proactive and come up with a way to help offset the costs of Special Education. When elected as a member of the School Committee I will look at ways in which I can help come up with a solution to solve the issue with the Special Education budget.

With the newly built schools that the taxpayers have paid for, we need to make sure that these buildings are being properly maintained. We cannot allow school buildings fall into disrepair like the city has done in the past. A proper maintenance and inspectional program should be implemented to assure the taxpayers that their tax dollars are being spent properly. It is easier and cost effective to maintain a school than to demolish one and build a new school.

Often overlooked, teachers are the backbone to a great educational system. The teachers in Woburn that teach students exceptionally well need to be commended more often. We need to give the teachers and members of the teachers union a fair and reasonable contract. My mother worked for a large city school system for 35 years, was a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and worked in the special education department; I know how hard teachers, paraprofessionals, and office staff work.

As a School Committee member I will bring an energetic, enthusiastic, and unique perspective to the Woburn School Committee. I will work hard to ensure that the education of the children in Woburn is one of the best in the state. The future of Woburn is in its schools, because the children of Woburn deserve the very best education possible, they are the future.

I look forward to speaking with you throughout this campaign, and listening to your comments, concerns or ideas about the Woburn Public School System. For more information on my campaign and myself please visit www.CharlesViola.com.

Charles Viola

2 Morningside Circle

Woburn, MA