I ask for your continued support as Ward 2 school committee representative. I have worked hard over the last two years and will continue to do so. My focus has been school safety and discipline. I have made contacts within the schools to keep abreast of safety and discipline issues and when informed of an incident I have addressed it immediately.

My number 1 priority is our children. We need to have an environment where all children feel safe, which will bring an atmosphere conducive to learning.

It has come to my attention that a meeting was held a week ago Saturday at a local restaurant between the president and former president of the Attleboro Education Association with new candidates running for school committee. Incumbents were not invited. The discussion was regarding a review of a questionnaire that was sent to all candidates by AEA. This was not fair to the other committee members. It gives the impression of trying to stack the deck on the part of the teachers' association.

Due to this meeting I respectfully declined to answer the questionnaire.

As a school committee we have no part in personnel issues. Therefore we shouldn't be seen meeting with any group that could be seen as being improper. Our job is to set goals and policies, curriculum, finance and budgets. That is what we are responsible for. A lot is being said about Dr. Pia Durkin, our superintendent, and the "exodus" of principals and teachers. Do you remember when you were in high school and there was always the one teacher no one liked because he or she was tough and everyone thought the class was too hard? It always turned out that that was the class where you learned the most. That's Dr. Durkin. She has been tough and demanding, but fair.

If you want to return to the years of misappropriated funds, cronyism and infighting on your school committee then maybe I am not the man for the job. Our schools are going forward and we need to continue to.

I may not be the most articulate speaker or the best dressed but make no mistake: my number one priority is our children. I ask for your support.

THIS WRITER is seeking re-election as Ward 2 school committee member.