Candidate’s Letter: Jen Primack for School Committee

[Ed note: On May 8th, residents will vote to appoint candidates to five contested seats on three important boards. To help you make that decision, I have invited each of them to submit a letter to readers.]

To the Editor:

As a parent of a first grader at Mary Finn, a clinical psychologist, and a professor at Brown University, education has been at the center of my life. I’m running for Southborough school committee because I want our children to have the best opportunities to succeed and I believe I have the experience and skills to make a positive impact.

My professional career has been focused on advocating for others. As a psychologist, researcher, and educator I have:

• Created curriculum.
• Taught high school and college students.
• Counseled adults and adolescents with emotional issues, and have come to understand the types of skills that make students successful.
• Run my own grants, including managing budgets, hiring and mentoring staff, and translating data into policy.
• Listened. Really listened both to my patients and my colleagues, because it is the best way to help and the only way to successfully collaborate.

But my most important job is being the mother to a 7 year-old daughter in the Southborough public school system, where I’ve volunteered as a room parent, in the library and in the computer lab.

I am deeply invested in having our schools be secure and safe environments, and I know how to foster emotional wellbeing in children. 

• I support later school start times for our middle and high school students. Change can be hard, but most of the research shows that older kids require more sleep and perform their best when adequately rested. In fact, there are even studies on how starting high school later can reduce traffic accidents, substance use, and behavioral problems.
• I want to explore options for healthier lunches, which I think we can do within our budgetary limitations.
• I’ll propose the creation of an alumni fundraising program that could reduce the burden on taxpayers. If private schools and colleges can do it, so can we.
• I will support comprehensive approaches to school safety that integrate an understanding of mental health, physical safety measures, and preparedness. For example, we should train substitute teachers and volunteers on what to do in the case of an intruder.
• I want to strengthen ties between Southborough’s schools and its broader community. For example, encouraging educational programs with groups like the Southborough Historical Society, Southborough Open Land Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce, and other local commissions.

I have attended school committee meetings and safety forums, have examined our budgets (plus the budgets of neighboring districts), and have met with parents, teachers, principals, and community leaders. I’ve developed specific plans and action items for each of my positions, and have posted more details on my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/electJenPrimack. You can also contact me directly at ElectJenPrimack@gmail.com

My family moved to Southborough five years ago, in large part because of the schools. We are one of the state’s top districts, with experienced teachers, qualified administrators, and a supportive community. I’m passionate about keeping our schools moving forward because even in the best districts there is room for improvement.

Please give me your vote on May 8, and I’ll work my hardest to make sure we maintain the sort of educational system that we all want for our children and our community.

Jen Primack
Candidate for School Committee