Support the Campaign
Fund raising has begun to support my campaign for re-election in November 2009.
or by check (see below)
If you have any questions or comments, email me or call me at 617-645-1884.
Thanks for your support! - Geoff
Adults can contribute up to $500 per year. Any amount: $20, $50, $100 would be greatly appreciated!
Online Contributions:
PayPal handles contributions by credit card and debit card.
You do not need to have a PayPal account to use this service.
Personal Checks:
Make checks out to Committee To Elect Geoffrey Epstein and mail to:
Committee To Elect Geoffrey Epstein, 67 Arlington St #2, Newton MA 02458
(please include your name, address, and phone number on the check)
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Dear Newton Community Members,
I have served as Ward 1 School Committee member for 18 months now and have tried my best to achieve the goals laid out in my 2007 election campaign.
Some progress has been made but not nearly enough.
We need a culture shift where we stop doing more of the same and start embracing the future, with significant changes in the school system approach to finance, education, building improvements, information management and technology infrastructure.
Here are some of the tasks the next School Committee will face:
- Choose a new Superintendent to take over in the summer of 2010.
- Solve our annual budget gap of $3 million in a sound, sustainable manner, so we can continue to hire and retain great teachers and not be cutting 80 full time positions each year.
- Substantially improve math & science, especially in the elementary and middle schools to provide our kids key basic skills they need for the 21st century.
- Solve the elementary school building issues, beginning with Angier, Cabot and Zervas, in an educationally and fiscally sound manner which the community supports. Especially, we need to retain all of the advantages of the small, neighborhood school model which has served us so well.
- Provide our kids and teachers the 21st Century classrooms they need by solving our chronic underfunding of technology infrastructure and shifting to a more effective model for teacher training.
This means that the approaching election is the most important we have had in many years. We need a CAN-DO 21st Century School Committee to lead us into the future.
Geoff Epstein
School Committee Member, Ward 1
geoff@geoffepstein.net
Background
- 19-year Newton resident and parent of an incoming 9th grader at Newton North
- Ward 1, School Committee Member since January 1st, 2008
- 8 years of advocacy for math, science & technology
- 7 years helping PTO organizations improve their web-based operations, including: Underwood, Memorial-Spaulding, Bigelow
- Past member, Underwood Academic Challenge Task Force
- Past Board President, Underwood After School Program
- Past member NPS Technology Advisory Committee
- Member of the Finance & Management Working Group
- President, RGB Software - engineering web information systems
- Ph.D in Theoretical Physics with post-docs at MIT, Oxford
- Past Assistant Professor of Physics, Boston University
2007 Campaign Platform
- World class math and science programs to give our kids the best preparation for the future more
- Updated school buildings to provide a safe, modern environment for our kids
- Better use of web technology to:
- Enrich instruction for our children
- Support teacher professional development
- Modernize information management
- More effective planning to set clear goals and make sure we reach them
- Commitment to breadth in education valuing world languages, music, art, voc-tech programs, sports and community service
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2009 Campaign Platform
- Elect a CAN-DO School Committee
- Solve our $3M budget gap
- Ramp up math & science
- Fix our school buildings
- Deliver on 21st Century classrooms
2007 News Archive
11/6 - Geoff Epstein wins the election by 4092 votes to 3015.
"Epstein’s potential contributions to the School Committee go beyond his math and science expertise. He’s an independent thinker who will speak out, when appropriate, and will work cooperatively with his colleagues." More
Geoff's Candidate Column in the TAB
Endorsement Spotlight
"Geoff has strong educational credentials and proven ability to work with the community on issues of importance to the schools and to the entire city."
George Mansfield, Ward 6 Alderman
"Geoff Epstein offers a fresh and energetic approach to the difficult challenge of finding new and creative ways to achieve educational excellence while being fiscally prudent. As a parent, Geoff will not sacrifice our children's education in order to satisfy our budgetary restraints."
Amy Sangiolo, Ward 4 Alderman-at-Large
"We don't often have the opportunity to enrich the mix of individuals on the School Committee with candidates like Geoff. He will be a great asset to the committee and to the Newton Public Schools."
Bruce Henderson, Zervas parent
Geoff joined the UASP Board at a time when the program was in dire need of visionary leadership. Under Geoff's leadership, the Board began to take on a more strategic and hands-on approach to overseeing the affairs of the program. Geoff provided strong, effective and goal-oriented direction to the Board and the After School Program.
Cynthia Bell, Director, Underwood After School Program
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