7 Questions For Nelly Medina, Worcester School Committee Candidate

WORCESTER, MA — Voters in southwestern Worcester will go to the polls Sept. 5 to vote for one of three candidates running for the Worcester School Committee District E seat — one of the five new school committee districts created after a 2021 lawsuit that challenged the city's at-large school committee election system.

The Sept. 5 preliminary will decide which two District E candidates move on to the November general election. The three candidates vying for a chance include Nelly Medina, John Reed and Kathi Roy.

Worcester Patch sent all three candidates a set of six questions probing various school issues, from police in schools to traffic safety. Here's how candidate Nelly Medina answered our questionnaire.

Why are you running in 2023?

After years of distant school committee representation, we're entering new territory with a representative accountable to our district. When I looked at the list of declared candidates for the seat and saw no names from grassroots community organizing and education advocacy I recognized, I decided to run. The District E rep must communicate empathetically in our diverse community of 24,000, which includes speakers of over 60 languages, and possess the organizing talents and energy to bring people from Upland Gardens to Washington Heights together.

As a mother of a special-needs first-grader in Worcester Public Schools, I understand the struggle of obtaining an IEP, a year-long process. I want to aid educators, clinicians, and families in culturally responsive support. The whole class suffers if one student lacks IEP assistance due to understaffing. Delays in IEP evaluations harm our schools and community. I am running for office because my leadership, educational background, and connection to diverse communities are essential to represent District E schools.

What's one district policy you would change or update?

Revolutionizing education spending assessment and budgeting. I aim to enhance engagement with stakeholders, parents, and educators to ensure their input shapes fund allocation. My experience as the ARP ESSER (American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund) Coordinator for the Massachusetts Teachers Association showed me that all too often, those most impacted by the allocation of funds have no say in the process or are unaware of funds that could be available to address their needs.

I also staunchly support removing the MCAS as a tenth-grade graduation requirement. The test negatively impacts students with IEPs, foster children, English language learners, and poor test takers who otherwise excel academically. The MCAS's bias contradicts its purpose. I endorse the Thrive Act to free educators from MCAS stress and empower their teaching.

Worcester has changed its use of police in schools recently, effectively eliminating resource officers. Has that benefited students?

We are in a state of limbo due to an unfinished plan. We must invest in our students’ mental health and well-being by implementing programs to build youth power, center student voices,
and organize to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. In 2015 and 2016, WPS had one of the country's highest suspension rates. Brown and Black students had higher in/out-of-school suspension rates than their peers. Replacing SROs with an initiative benefiting all students - one that teaches consequences, provides healing, and creates positive, tolerant, youth-led spaces to counter oppression and encourage respect for oneself and others - is the dream. Now that we have eliminated SROs the next step should be to invest in our students.

Is it safe for kids in District E to walk/bike/roll to school? Is there anything the school committee can do to make it safer?

Our city needs more bike lanes and sidewalks for students to travel back and forth from school on clear, safe routes. I would love to see MassBike awarded additional funding to deploy e-bikes to low-income students throughout Worcester. Making Mass Bikes' E-bike program accessible to working students to commute to school, work, and home would increase access to opportunities for our growing student population. The Worcester school committee could support a safer travel policy for students walking and riding bicycles to school.

Would you be in favor of school bus cameras if it was an option in Worcester?

I am in favor of guarenteeing that drivers follow traffic laws around buses. The safety of our students is paramount. If cameras on the exteriors of buses increase the safety of our students, then I support them.

There's been a lot of news about book banning in other states, especially books that deal with race and LGBTQ issues. How do you feel about that happening?

Since my child was tiny, we have read and learned about activism, different families, diversity, and civil rights through books designed to stimulate young minds and encourage gentle conversation.

Promoting diversity in education exposes students to various cultural and social perspectives, preparing them for responsible citizenship. It enables students in a diverse city like ours to see themselves represented in their lessons and the books they read. This suppression of ideas is an unconstitutional and fear-based tactic to divide us and is rooted in bigotry. I vow to oppose any attempts to introduce book banning in Worcester Public Schools.

Where would you suggest young people in Worcester go as a "third place" — not school, not home — that doesn't cost money?

In Worcester we are blessed with many beautiful parks, including Coes Park and Hadwen Park in District E. However, we have long seasons of cold weather here and this limits their year-round appeal. Additionally, even in warmer months they may lack appeal for older youth.

It is unfortunate that the young people of Worcester lack many options for freely accessible recreation and safe gathering. As the city continues to grow and develop, we must guarantee that it is welcoming and livable for residents of all ages. I believe part of my job representing District E would be to be responsive to the needs and desires of our students, and I would seek to use my position to elevate their voices and provide them seats at tables where this is discussed. To provide our children with such places, we need to know what they want and would actually use.